SMAT 2023: Punjab pip Baroda to lift their maiden title
A young and exuberant Punjab side got the better of Baroda by 20 runs in a high-scoring Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final on Monday, November 6. Anmolpreet Singh scored a breathtaking century, while Arshdeep Singh picked up a four-for to help Punjab win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title for the first time. The team from Northern India won nine out of the 10 matches they played in the campaign.
Batting first against Baroda, Punjab amassed 223/4 in their 20 overs before restricting Baroda to 203/7 to win the riveting final. Earlier in the day, Krunal Pandya won the toss and invited Punjab to bat first, at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. Soyeb Sopariya gave Baroda a perfect start as he dismissed the in-form Abhishek Sharma off the first ball of the match. Prabhsimran Singh was also dismissed in quick succession but Anmolpreet and skipper Mandeep Singh steadied the innings with a 62-run partnership off 41 balls.
After Mandeep’s dismissal, Nehal Wadhera, who was one of the finds of this year’s Indian Premier League, gave Anmolpreet excellent company as they put on a mind-boggling partnership of 138 runs off just 58 balls. Anmolpreet was eventually run out for 113 off 61 balls, while Wadhera remained unbeaten on 61 off 27 deliveries.
Arshdeep Singh’s four-wicket haul and Anmolpreet Singh’s ton leads Punjab to SMAT title
In the second innings of the SMAT 2023 grand final, Punjab were quite sloppy on the field as they dropped four catches, including three of Krunal. Abhimanyu Singh top-scored with a 42-ball 61, while the likes of Ninad Rathva, Krunal, and Vishnu Solanki also chipped in with flamboyant knocks. 33 runs were needed off the last 12 balls with Baroda having seven wickets intact.
This was after Siddarth Kaul conceded 24 runs in the 18th over. Arshdeep Singh showcased his death-bowling skills in the penultimate over as he conceded just four runs and picked up three wickets to take Punjab to the brink. Harpreet Brar gave away just eight runs in the 20th over to take his team to a momentous triumph. Anmolpreet was fittingly adjudged Player of the Match. Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma, who finished as the second-highest run-getter with 485 runs in 10 matches, was named Player of the Tournament.
