Hazare Trophy: Venkatesh Iyer dazzles as MP down Kerala

Rajkot: Venkatesh Iyer's all-round show helped Madhya Pradesh floor Kerala by 40 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group D match here on Thursday.

Iyer smashed an 84-ball 112 as MP amassed 329/9 in 50 overs after put in to bat. He then picked up 2/51 with his medium-pace bowing as Kerala were bowled out for 289 in the final over. Puneet Datey claimed 4/59 for the winners.

Openers Rohan S Kunnummal and Mohammed Azharuddeen (34) put on 68 inside 10 overs. However, Kerala found the going tough once Rohan departed for 66. Captain Sanju Samson fell for 18, while Sachin Baby scored 66.

Kerala next meet Maharashtra on Saturday. Maharashtra are sitting pretty with two wins from as many matches, while MP and Kerala have won one and lost one game so far.

Earlier, the left-handed Iyer's blistering knock contained seven fours and four sixes.

Shubham Sharma made 82 and added 169 for the fourth wicket along with Iyer. Rajat Patidar and Abhishesk Bhandari scored 49 each.

Part-timer Vishnu Vinod was the most successful bowler with figures of 3/59 from eight overs. Pacer Manu Krishan could bowl only three overs before he left the field with an injury.

Brief scores: Madhya Pradesh 329/9 in 50 overs (Veknatesh Iyer 112, Shubham Sharma 82; Vishnu Vinod 3/59) bt Kerala 289 in 49.4 overs (Sachin Baby 66, Rohan S Kunnummal 66; Puneet Datey 4/59, Venkatesh Iyer 2/51).

Points: Madhya Pradesh 4; Kerala 0.

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