Minnu Mani steers Kerala home in a close win

The story of low scores continued for the fourth consecutive day of the inter-state Under-23 Twenty20 competition.

Bihar (26), Meghalaya (35 for 9), Manipur (15) and Arunachal Pradesh (15) failed to show any kind of improvement. There were five run outs in Meghalaya’s innings during their chase of 121.

Priya Khatkar was the day’s best performer with returns of 4 for 6 for Himachal Pradesh. Gayatri Naik took three wickets without conceeding a run for Baroda.

Priya Punia spent important time in the middle with an unbeaten 45 in Delhi’s chase of 78 against Tripura. The batting performance of the day belonged to SM Singh, the Himachal Pradesh opener, who made an unbeaten 65 off 58 balls to help her team post 137 for 4 against Bihar. With their third win in as many matches, Himachal strengthened their position at the top of Group C table.

Kerala and Uttar Pradesh were engaged in a close contest in Kochi. Chasing 113, Kerala rode on Deepthi JS’s 45 and Minnu Mani’s unbeaten 43 off 38 balls, which included four fours and a six to finish the game with four balls to spare.

Results:

Group A

Baroda beat Manipur by ten wickets

Goa beat Meghalaya by 85 runs

Kerala beat Uttar Pradesh by six wickets

Group C

Himachal Pradesh beat Bihar by 111 runs

Haryana beat Arunachal Pradesh by ten wickets

Delhi beat Tripura by nine wickets