Kumar Kushagra and Ishan Kishan Power Jharkhand to Record Chase, Punjab Suffers Humiliating Defeat in SMAT

New Delhi: Jharkhand pulled off the biggest successful chase in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), chasing down a target of 236 runs against Punjab in a thrilling Super League Group A encounter on Friday.

Salil Arora’s Century Goes in Vain:
For Punjab, Salil Arora delivered a spectacular innings, scoring 125 runs off 45 balls, including 9 fours and 11 sixes. He reached his century in just 39 balls, helping Punjab post a challenging 235/6 in 20 overs, despite losing two early wickets at 28 runs. Arora’s explosive performance, particularly his aggressive strokeplay against left-arm pacer Sushant Mishra, is likely to attract IPL franchises in the upcoming mini-auction. However, captain Prabhsimran Singh took on wicketkeeping duties that day, with Arora primarily focusing on his batting.

Jharkhand’s Stellar Chase:
Jharkhand’s chase was anchored by Kumar Kushagra (82*), captain Ishan Kishan (47), Anukul Roy (37), and Pankaj Kumar (39). The team achieved the target in 18.1 overs with four wickets down, showcasing a strong, coordinated batting effort.

Other Notable Matches:

• Andhra Pradesh vs. Madhya Pradesh: Andhra’s Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed 25 runs and 3 wickets, but the team fell short, scoring 112 in 19.1 overs, while Madhya Pradesh chased it down in 17.3 overs for 6 wickets, with Rishabh Chauhan (47) and Rahul Batham (35*) leading the charge.
• Rajasthan vs. Haryana: Rajasthan posted 132/8 in 20 overs, with Mahipal Lomror (37*) and Shubham Garhwal (33) top-scoring. Haryana chased the target in 16.2 overs for 3 wickets, powered by Ankit Kumar’s 60-run half-century.

Conclusion:
Jharkhand’s record-breaking chase highlighted the impact of strategic partnerships and aggressive batting, with Kumar Kushagra and Ishan Kishan emerging as standout performers. Punjab’s reliance on a single hero, Salil Arora, was insufficient against the collective batting brilliance of Jharkhand.