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NEW DELHI: Mohammed Shami delivered a sensational all-round performance to propel Bengal into the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, clinching a narrow three-run win against Chandigarh in Bengaluru on Monday.
Shami’s late blitz with the bat and a clinical bowling display proved pivotal in Bengal’s thrilling victory. Batting at No. 10, Shami smashed an unbeaten 32 off just 17 balls, including three fours and two sixes.
Coming in at a precarious 114/8 in the 16th over, his onslaught lifted Bengal to a competitive 159/9. His strike rate of 188.24 turned the game on its head, with the veteran pacer finishing as the second-highest scorer for Bengal after Karan Lal’s 33.
Writtick Chatterjee (28 off 12) and Pradipta Pramanik (30 off 24) also made vital contributions in the first innings, helping Bengal recover from a poor start after being sent in to bat by Chandigarh.
Shami’s heroics extended to the ball as well. He struck in the very first over of Chandigarh’s chase, dismissing opener Arslan Khan for a golden duck. He bowled an economical spell of 1/25 in four overs, including 13 dot balls, setting the tone for Bengal’s defense.
Although Chandigarh, led by Manan Vohra, came close to the target, Bengal’s bowlers held their nerve to restrict them to 156/9 in 20 overs. Sayan Ghosh was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 4/30 to complement Shami’s efforts.
Shami’s performance comes as he eyes a return to India’s Test squad for the remaining Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches in Australia.
The veteran pacer, recovering from a year-long injury, has already bowled 42 overs in a Ranji Trophy match and participated in eight Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games. While he is yet to receive final fitness clearance from the NCA, it is expected to be a mere formality.
With his recent form, Shami’s availability could provide a significant boost to India’s Test team in the high-stakes series Down Under.
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