Hyderabad, Nov 28: Chennai Super Kings pacer Anshul Kamboj dismissed swashbuckling India opener Abhishek Sharma twice in the game as Haryana pipped Punjab via Super Over in a thrilling Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy match here Friday.
Set a target of 208, Punjab ended their innings at the same score to take the match to Super Over, where Kamboj got the wickets of Abhishek and Sanvir Singh in three deliveries. Nishant Sindhu then hit a first-ball boundary to score the required two runs and seal the contest in Haryana’s favour.
Earlier in the Group C match, CSK speedster Kamboj accounted for the wickets of openers Abhishek (6) and Prabhsimran Singh (20) to rock Punjab at the start of their chase after Sindhu (61 off 32 balls) and skipper Ankit Kumar (51 off 26 balls) propelled Haryana to a competitive total with their blazing knocks.
At 28 for two in the third over, Punjab were in a spot of bother but Anmolpreet Singh had other ideas as he blasted his way to 81 off a mere 37 deliveries to bring his side back into the contest.
Anmolpreet added 68 runs for the third wicket with Salil Arora (22 off 18) and then 49 with Nehal Wadehra (11) to keep Punjab in the game.
Anmolpreet though could not finish the game for Punjab as Samant Jakhar had him caught at a crucial juncture to swing the game Haryana’s way.
However, the explosive Sanvir (30 off 16 balls), in the company of Ramandeep Singh (13 off 9) and Harpreet Brar (10 off 4), helped Punjab match Haryana’s total to extend the contest.
Besides Kamboj (2/26 in 4), there were two wickets apiece for Jakhar (2/37 in 4) and Yuzvendra Chahal 2/40 in 4).After the dismissal of Sindhu and Ankit, Sumit Kumar (28 off 14 balls) and Jakhar (19 off 13) propped up Haryana.
Bengal scrape past Gujarat
In another Group C contest, Bengal prevailed over Gujarat by three wickets with seven balls to spare.
Batting first, Gujarat were bowled out for 127 in 18.3 overs with Saksham Choudhary (3/16 in 4 overs), Mohammed Shami (2/31 in 3.3 overs) and Sayan Ghosh (2/26 in 3 overs) taking the bulk of wickets for the home team.Vishal Jayswal top-scored for Gujarat with 36 in 30 balls, skipper Urvil Patel was dismissed for a 10-ball 20.Bengal struggled in their chase as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran was the top scorer for Bengal with a run-a-ball 34, while the likes of Habib Gandhi (18), Karan Lal (17) and Abishek Porel (14) failed to translate their starts into significant contributions.
Shahbaz Ahmed (19 not out), however, guided the home team past the target of 128.Ravi Bishnoi, Hemang Patel and Harshal Patel picked up two wickets each for Gujarat.
In the end, it was Kamboj’s composure under pressure that proved decisive, bookending Haryana’s night with early breakthroughs and a nerveless Super Over. On a day when both groups produced tight finishes, Haryana’s grit and Bengal’s steady hands underlined the fine margins that define the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. (PTI)
