Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Murali Vijay makes a statement with a ton against Meghalaya

India opener Murali Vijay has seen a slump in form in international cricket but the Tamil Nadu batsman has shown glimpses of regaining his touch in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament. After scoring just three in the first game against Gujarat, Vijay hit a couple of 70s and then scaled the height by belting a century against Meghalaya on Saturday.

Tamil Nadu thumped Meghalaya by 92 runs as a result and made the scenario interesting in Group B. Three teams are tied on 16 points in the group now with Gujarat leading the other two – Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu – in terms of net run-rate.

Vijay, who saw himself getting dropped from India’s Test team twice in the recent past – in England and Australia – owing to poor run with the bat, has found his touch in the T20 games and that will make Chennai Super Kings, the franchise he plays for in the Indian Premier League, hopeful about the batsman delivering in the upcoming edition starting March 23.

Vijay, Washington Sundar gave TN a dream start

Vijay was in prime touch against Meghalaya, who are yet to win a game in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year, and put 139 runs for the first wicket with partner Washington Sundar (53) under 15 overs. Vijay eventually fell for 107 off 67, his third in the shortest format, as Tamil Nadu raced to 213 for 2 in 20 overs. Meghalaya managed 121 for 4 in reply with Gurinder Singh top scoring with 38 off 30 balls.

The T20 tournament is Vijay’s first since he got dropped from the Indian Test XI after failing in the second Test in Perth against Australia. Vijay, who was similarly excluded from the Indian squad midway in the five-match series played in England last year, said he was ‘devastated’ after being dropped for the Boxing Day Test. Tamil Nadu are led by ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the tournament.

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