Irfan serves reminder with 5-wkt haul for Baroda

After veteran RP Singh's incisive spell in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final, it was time for another seasoned left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan to serve a reminder to the selectors with a five wicket haul as Baroda crushed Assam by 49 runs in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Pathan recorded career-best T20 figures of 5/13 in four overs as Assam were restricted to 116 for 9 in 20 overs reply to Baroda's decent score of 165 for eight.
The left-arm seamer, who is leading Baroda finished his spell with the new ball in one stretch getting wickets in all his four overs.

Courtesy Pathan, Assam were in tatters at 22 for five inside seven overs and never recovered from that blow.
Irfan, who would like to keep both IPL franchises as well as national selectors interested, bowled sharply as got the ball to move away consistently and few that straightened after pitching.
Left-hander Pallav Kumar Das (1) got one that came in while right-handers Sarupam Purakayashtha (4) and KB Arun Karthik (9) got away going deliveries.

Earlier, when Baroda batted, Kedar Devdhar and Deepak Hooda contributed 48 runs each in Baroda's total. Yusuf Pathan scored 9 but the biggest flop show was Hardik Pandya, who managed only five runs and also gave away 27 from 3 overs.

Brief Scores: Baroda 165/8 (Kedar Devdhar 48, Deepak Hooda 48, Abu Nechim Ahmed 2/35, J Syed Mohammed 2/28).
Assam 116/9 in 20 overs (Irfan Pathan 5/13, Swapnil Singh 2/15). Baroda won by 49 runs.