Madhya Pradesh beat Jharkhand by 9 runs

Bhubaneswar: Madhya Pradesh produced an allround performance to notch up a nine-run victory over Jharkhand in a Group A twenty20 match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy here today. 

Put into bat, Madhya Pradesh rode on a strong batting display by their middle-order to post a decent 153 in their stipulated 20 overs and then returned to restrict Jharkhand for 144-7 at KIIT Stadium. 

Chasing 154, Jharkhand made a decent start but medium pacer Harpreet Singh struck twice with the ball and also produced a run-out to leave them tottering at 81 for 5. Harpreet, who had scored 31 off 21 balls, dismissed Avinash Kumar (13) and skipper Kumar Deobrat (6) and also ran out opener Ishan kishan (19), while Anurag Singh got rid off Virat Singh and Yogesh Datey removed Ishank Jaggi.

Kaushal Singh then produced a scintillating 28-ball 50 run innings, which was studded with five fours and three sixes, but it was not enough to take Jharkhand home as they slumped to their second successive defeat in the Super League.

Earlier, Vikash Kumar (2/27), Kushal Singh (2/26) and Prakash Seet (2/41) picked up two wickets to help their team.