Syed Mushtaq Ali 2023 Final: Punjab faces constant Baroda in hunt for SMAT title

The pleasure of Virat Kohli’s forty ninth hundred was only a background murmur because the Punjab gamers stored their give attention to the prize – the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) – for which they are going to face Baroda within the ultimate on the PCA IS Bindra Stadium on Monday.

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The Mandeep Singh-led facet started the match with a record-shattering 275/6 towards Andhra and has stored the identical intent getting in all of the video games, having a run price of 10.56 – the most effective amongst all of the 38 taking part groups.

Abhishek Sharma, the second-highest run-getter with 485 runs at a strike price of 193.23, has been the go-to man for the native favourites. It was Sharma once more, on Saturday, who took the Delhi bowling assault aside within the semifinal and helped Punjab chase down the 184-run goal comfortably.

Punjab’s Abhishek Sharma (proper) and Jass Inder Singh throughout a apply session on the eve of Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy Cricket match ultimate at IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR/ The Hindu

While Sharma has been the batting mainstay, the remainder of the line-up has proven its muscle energy; the workforce smashing 103 sixes to this point this match.

“Isko slow khilana piche (bowl him slow bowls on the back length)“ said head coach Aavishkar Salvi to one of the net bowlers, who warmed up to bowl to Sanvir Singh on Sunday evening.

Sanvir has been the finisher for Punjab this tournament and played a crucial knock (35 off 13 balls) in the quarterfinals against Uttar Pradesh. The challenge of picking slower ones off a fast bowler’s hand under lights was duly dealt with by Sanvir, who kept going for slogs throughout his 30-minute session.

“We have to win tomorrow”

A decided Dhruv Patel, who has solely performed two video games this match for Baroda, exulted “kal to jeetna hi hai (We have to win tomorrow)” as he padded up and smacked the white ball round within the nets.

Having defeated Assam within the semifinal simply the night earlier than, Baroda opted for a lightweight coaching session on Sunday morning with solely a handful of gamers in attendance.

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Opener Ninad Rathva, who scored 44 to arrange the chase on Saturday, was the primary to have a go within the nets and batted lengthy. Having scored solely 78 in 5 innings this match, Rathva labored on his scoring pictures and shall be hoping to offer a strong begin within the ultimate.

The Krunal Pandya-led facet has had a constant run, having gained eight video games, falling quick by three runs towards Mumbai in the one match it misplaced this version.

But a troublesome problem awaits two-time winner Baroda as dwelling workforce Punjab will look to return all weapons blazing with a purpose to get its palms on the trophy for the primary time.