SMAT 2024/25, Baroda beat Bengal to make semis: Key stats
What's the story
Baroda reached the 2024/25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy semi-final after beating Bengal at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The Krunal Pandya-led side successfully defended 172/7 after bowling out Bengal for 131. Hardik Pandya, Lukman Meriwala, and Atit Sheth took three wickets each for Baroda. The side will now feature in the semi-final on December 13 at the same venue.
Baroda
Baroda rack up 172/7 in 20 overs
Baroda had an ideal start as openers Abhimanyusingh Rajput (37) and Shashwat Rawat (40) added 90 runs. However, the two departed in four balls before the 100-run mark. Baroda lost successive wickets thereafter, with Shivalik Sharma, Bhanu Pania, and Vishnu Solanki playing impatful cameos. Baroda eventually racked up 172/7, while Mohammed Shami took two wickets for Bengal.
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Baroda floor Bengal
Bengal batters couldn't settle after Baroda broke through. Hardik, Meriwala, and Sheth took three wickets as Bengal departed for 131. Shahbaz Ahmed's 36-ball 55 went in vain. Hardik was the pick of their bowlers.
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Baroda to feature in first semi-final
As mentioned, Baroda will feature in the first semi-final on December 13 in Bengaluru. They earlier topped Group B after winning six of their seven games. Their only defeat came to Saurashtra, who lost to Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-final.
Hardik
Hardik shines with three-fer
Hardik started the proceedings for Baroda but got his first breakthrough in the 10th over in the form of Ritwik Chowdhury. He later dismissed Sakshaim Chaudhary and Mohammed Shami in the same over. Notably, Hardik was one of only two Baroda bowlers who completed their quota of four overs. He recorded an economy rate of 6.80 in four overs.
Shahbaz
Shahbaz slams a fighting half-century
Shahbaz slammed a fighting half-century for Bengal in the match. He scored a 36-ball 55, a knock laced with 3 fours and 4 sixes. However, he turned out to be their lone warrior who held his fort till the end. With this, the left-handed all-rounder has raced to 1,286 in T20s at 26.24. His strike rate is 136.08. He hit his 4th fifty.
Shami
Shami gets past 200 T20 scalps
Shami managed 2/43 from his 4 overs. As per ESPNcricinfo, Shami bowled 35.3 overs (213 balls) in nine SMAT 2024/25 matches, picking up 11 wickets at an average of 25.36 and an economy rate of 7.85. Shami also raced past 200 wickets in T20s. In 165 matches, he owns 201 scalps at 24.29. His economy rate is 8.19. He owns three four-fers in T20s.