Mohammed Shami led Bengal to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals by scoring a game-changing 17-ball-32 and bowling 13 dot balls in four overs.
Mohammed Shami, who showed no symptoms of rust, led Bengal to the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after hitting a game-changing 17-ball-32 and bowled 13 dot balls in four overs, paving the door for his team’s exciting three-run win over Chandigarh Bengaluru on Monday. With no word on his international return, the 34-year-old played his ninth SMAT T20 game in 16 days, bowling his full quota in nearly all of them. On the day, he first used the long handle well, taking 19 runs off seasoned Sandeep Sharma’s final over to help Bengal reach 159 for 9 from 114 for 8.
He smashed two sixes and three fours, largely through the point region, but his penultimate wicket stand of 21 off 10 balls with Sayan Ghosh was significant.
Veteran Kolkata Maidan slinger Ghosh (4/30), a death overs specialist, delivered a magnificent final over in which 11 runs were required as Nikhil Sharma’s plan went astray. Chandigarh was limited to 156 for 9.