Three half-centuries propelled Baroda to a thumping victory over Hyderabad in the Late Capt Vijay Hazare All India Knockout Tournament being played at the Polytechnic ground, Agartala, on Monday.

The Pinal Shah-led outfit has now entered the semifinals of the tournament, where it will meet the winner of the Delhi-Bengal match.

Chasing a modest target of 168, Baroda got off to a poor start as KH Devdhar (5) was given marching orders by pacer MP Arjun. However, SR Solanki (59) and Azhar Bilakhia (50) steadied the ship with a 76-run stand for the second wicket. Solanki hit 10 boundaries in his hour-long stay at the wicket, during which he faced 49 balls.

Bilakhia, on the other hand, played the anchor role, staying at the wicket for 102 minutes. Solanki's departure with the total on 90 gave Hyderabad a sliver of hope, but this was taken away as Bilakhia and Rakesh Solanki (56 off 57) added 65 to the scoreboard at nearly a run a ball.

Bilakhia departed with 13 runs left for victory. Rakesh Solanki and Pinal Shah (1*) ensured there was no further damage as Baroda cruised to victory in the 31st over of the innings.

Earlier in the day, Hyderabad had elected to bat first, a decision captain Arjun Yadav must have repented. T Suman (1) departed in the fourth over, bowled by young seamer IA Zapawala, who then proceeded to get rid of S Anooppai (4) and Yadav (2). Hyderabad were 19/3 before opener DB Ravi Teja (77) and AJ Shinde (20) gave some stability to the innings.

Just when it looked like Hyderabad had emerged from their early setback, Sumit Singh struck, ripping through the middle order. After removing Shinde, he sent A Kumar (19) and Ahmed Quadri (7) back to the dressing room. MY Vahora dismissed Teja, who faced 137 deliveries for his 77. Zapawala scalped his fourth victim in the form of PR Singh as Hyderabad were bundled out for 167.

The other two quarterfinals between Delhi and Bengal and Mumbai and Tamil Nadu will be held on Wednesday.

Brief Scores:

Hyderabad: 167 in 49.3 ov (D Ravi Teja 77; I Zapawala 4/29, S Singh 3/25) lost to Baroda: 173/3 in 30.2 ov (S Solanki 59, R Solanki 56*)