SMAT 2021 QF: Vishnu Solanki hits six off the last ball to take Baroda into the semis

In an edge of the seat finish, Vishnu Solanki hit a six off the last delivery including 19 runs in the last over, out of which 16 came on the last three balls against Haryana to take his side Baroda into the semi-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021. Solanki, who came in at three stayed till the end to see his team through a chase that dwindled in the center uncertainty. 

Chasing a modest total of 149 at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad, Baroda got off to a cautious start with Smit Patel and Kedar Devdhar adding 33 for the first wicket in the first five overs. In fact, the Baroda team never went overboard trying to finish the chase early at any point in time in their innings except for when they had no other option in the last over. 

With Patel out, experienced Devdhar and Solanki added 68 in 56 balls.  The chase started getting tougher as wily spinner Yuzvendra Chahal sneaked in four quick overs and eventually it came down to Baroda requiring 42 off 24 balls. It was then that Solanki turned on his destructive mode an unbelievable 19 in the last over off Sumit Kumar to take his team home. 

Earlier in the day, Baroda won the toss and decided to bowl first, and did exceedingly well to restrict Haryana to just 148 in their 20 overs even after Himanshu Rana and Shivam Chouhan got starts. 

Broda will now face Punjab in the first semi-finals of the SMA Trophy 2021 which will also be played at the Motera on 29th January. 

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