New Delhi, Jan 24 (.) Mohammed Shami once again reminded everyone why he is a force to be reckoned with. His fiery five-wicket haul for Bengal put Services on the back foot and almost sealed an innings victory, capping it off by dismissing Rajat Paliwal, the opposition’s standout performer.
Shami’s performance wasn’t just about numbers — it was about timing, impact, and lifting his team when it mattered most.
Elsewhere in the domestic circuit, battles of grit and determination unfolded across the country. In Bhubaneswar, Tamil Nadu’s Athish SR and Sonu Yadav’s contrasting half-centuries helped their team recover from 207/7 to post 316, leaving Odisha staring at an almost improbable target of 408.
Yadav’s 74 off 75 balls and Sai Kishore’s vital contribution with the ball ensured TN remained in command.
Goa’s Abhinav Tejrana also showed resilience, crafting a fighting century to save his team from an innings defeat against Maharashtra. Despite being 70/4, Tejrana’s effort pushed Goa into a small lead, keeping their hopes alive with four wickets in hand.
Rajasthan scripted a remarkable recovery against Himachal, thanks to contributions from their lower order. Manav Suthar’s century, along with half-centuries from Ajay Singh Kukna and Amol Chelani, helped the team bounce back from 104/6 to post 342, turning the contest into a likely draw.
Gujarat, too, found form in their second innings, with Jaymeet Patel scoring a breezy century and Urvil Patel adding a half-century, taking the team to 347. Yet their earlier struggles meant Railways still needed only 99 to chase victory, highlighting how cricket is often a game of two halves.
On another front, Karnataka’s fightback against Madhya Pradesh was led by Vidyadhar Patil and Shikhar Shetty, but it was Himanshu Mantri’s unbeaten 89 that ensured MP retained a 336-run lead. His innings was a masterclass in patience, hitting just four boundaries yet keeping the opposition at bay.
Bowling continued to dominate in several encounters. Mumbai’s bowlers, led by Tushar Deshpande and Himanshu Singh, applied relentless pressure on Hyderabad, reducing them first to 267 and then to 166/7 in the follow-on.
Andhra, too, saw their bowlers shine, with Kavuri Saiteja picking four wickets and Saurabh Kumar and Nitish Kumar Reddy sharing a brace apiece to put Vidarbha under control, setting up a target of 259.
Finally, Chandigarh’s dominance was unquestionable, with Vishnu Vinod and Salman Nizar’s fifties providing stability and Rohit Dhanda’s four wickets, complemented by Vishu Kashyap’s three, securing an innings-and-92-run win.
Through all these battles, Shami’s performance for Bengal stood as a beacon of inspiration, showing how one player’s brilliance can lift a team, define a match, and leave a mark on the tournament.
. . PRS