Yusuf scores 69-ball ton as Baroda register first win

Mumbai: All-rounder Yusuf Pathan scored a blistering century as Baroda defeated Saurashtra by 52 runs to register their first win in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Sunday.

Pathan`s 78-ball 114, which included 10 sixes and six fours, helped Baroda score 315-8 in their 50 overs. Saurashtra were then bowled out for 263, despite a maiden ton by 23-year-old Sheldon Jackson who scored 117 (120b, 4x7, 6x5). Pathan, who came to the crease with Baroda at 3-101 in the 24th over, single-handedly demolished the Saurashtra attack while completing his century in just 69 balls with the help of nine sixes and six fours. Openers K Devdhar (45), A Waghmode (38), Ambati Rayudu (33) and A Karambelkar (37) too chipped in with useful scores for Baroda. All-rounder C Jani and Kamlesh Makwana picked up two wickets apiece for Saurashtra. Chasing a target of 316, Saurashtra began disastrously losing opener S Jogiyani in the first over for a nought. Veteran Sitanshu Kotak made 24 before being dismissed by pacer Munaf Patel. Skipper Cheteshwar Pujara (32) and Jackson added 103 runs for the third wicket, but after Pujara`s dismissal by Gagandeep Singh in the 30th over with the score on 154, Saurashtra lost regular wickets. Jackson was fifth out in the 42nd over with the team`s total on 239. Besides, Jackson and Pujara, only Kuldeep Raval offered some resistance with a 19-ball 38, inclusive of five fours and two sixes, but that was never going to be enough. Left-arm spinners Bhargav Bhatt (3-49) and Swapnil Singh (3-51) were the pick of the bowlers for Baroda while Munaf and Gagandeep shared two-wickets apiece. Mumbai and Maharashtra have already qualified from the West Zone for the knockouts. Brief scores: Baroda 315 in 50 overs (Yusuf Pathan 114, K Devdhar 45, A Waghmode 38; C Jani 2-52, Kamlesh Makwana 2-52) beat Saurashtra 263 all out in 44.5 overs (S Jackson 117, Kuldeep Raval 38, C Pujara 33; Bhargav Bhatt 3-49, Swapnil Singh 3-51) by 52 runs. PTI