Chandigarh: Former Test player and skipper of Baroda all-rounder Irfan Pathan came up with a superlative all round performance against PCA Colts in their quarterfinal match of the 22nd All India JP Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament played at GMSSS, Sector 26, ehere on Friday.

First he grabbed two wickets and then with a blistering knock of 67 off 42 balls -- splashed with six glorious boundaries and four huge effortless sixes -- took his team out from the jaws of certain defeat into a glorious two-wicket win with two balls to spare.

Baroda after winning the toss and opting to field soon had Punjab opener Sanvir and Shivluv back in the pavilion with 20 runs on the board in space of 4.5 overs. Thereafter, Taruwar Kohli and Sharad Lumba stitched a 51-run partnership for the third wicket before Sharad Lumba was caught by Bhonsle off Karambelkar for 18.

Thereafter, Taruwar Kohli was joined by Navneet Virk and duo took the score to 153, while adding 82 runs for the fourth wicket before Navneet Virk was caught and bowled by Swapnil after a strokeful half century (50) off 53 balls studded with 6 boundaries. Nikhil Chaudhary in company of Taruwar Kohli added 67 runs for the sixth wicket before Taruwar Kohli was trapped in front by Soib Tai for 94 off 134 balls inclusive of 8 boundaries.

Nikhil Chaudhary remained unbeaten on 54 off 37 balls inclusive of 4 boundaries and 3 huge sixes. Punjab innings ended at 266 for 7 in 50 overs.

Irfan Pathan 2 for 43, A.Karambelkar 2 for 41, Vijay Halai 1 for 54 Soib Tai 1 for 53 and Sawapnil Singh 1 for 51 were the main wicket takers for Baroda.

Baroda started their reply with Kedar Devdhar and Aditya Wagmode. Subek Gill struck the first blow when he had Kedar Devdar for 12. Thereafter, Kedar Devdar and Dhiren Mistry put on 53 runs for the second wicket before Dhiren Mistry was caught by Sanvir off Karan Kaila for 30 off 41 balls inclusive of 4 boundaries.

Aditya Wagmode was the next to go being run out by Sanvir for 43 off 71 balls, inclusive of four boundaries. Baroda kept on losing wickets at regular intervals with only Vishv Solanki making 33 off 52 balls with four boundaries. At this stage Baroda was looking down the barrel with the score of 150 for 6 in 37 overs, still needing 116 runs in 13 overs for a win.

At this stage skipper Irfan Pathan and Swapnil Singh got together to take the PCA Colts bowlers to the cleaners by adding 108 runs in 10.5 overs to take the team’s score to 258 for 7 in 47.5 overs before Irfan Pathan was finally caught by Nikhil Chaudhary in the deep off Sanvir Singh while going for another big hit. He finally perished for 67. PCA Colts continued to hold their ground as they had Swapnil Singh cleaned up by Vinay Chaudhary for 46 off 36 balls with two boundaries and two sixes. Baroda then reached the victory target with three balls to spare and enter the semifinal where they would meet Reliance-I. Irfan Pathan for his brilliant all round performance named man-of-the-match.