Away from the spotlight and media glare surrounding the T20 World Cup in Australia, some serious business in this format is being conducted in Kolkata. The knockout stage matches of the national T20 championship for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy are being played here. These games do not generate a lot of following, but are important for those who aspire to play for India or secure IPL contracts. All IPL teams send talent hunters to these fixtures.
Tuesday was no different. Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel and medium-pacer R.P. Singh were among the talent scouts present at the Videocon Academy ground in Salt Lake. It was the quarter-final between Bengal and Himachal Pradesh, where not many players from the home team made their mark. Despite posting 199 for six, Bengal suffered a last-ball defeat, which ended their campaign. The total is not as big as it might seem because the ground is not big. Any reasonable hit went for six, which helped Himachal maintain a run rate of 10 almost throughout.
Bengal would still feel bad because they had 17 to defend in the last over and the experienced Mukesh Kumar conceded those runs. There was an opportunity for the team to tie the game and stretch it to a super over, but wicketkeeper Agniv Pan missed a simple run out. Himachal needed two runs off the last ball and hero of the match, Akash Vasisht, was well short of the crease going for a desperate second. The throw from the deep was good enough but Pan failed to collect it. The Himachal players ran into the ground in celebration.
Although they do not possess big names, Himachal have limited-overs pedigree. The reigning national 50-over champions showed their mettle after losing four wickets inside seven overs. Vasisht made an unbeaten 76 off 42 balls with five sixes and as many fours. Nikhil Gangta contributed 50 off 37 with two sixes and three fours, and aided Vasisht in a fifth-wicket partnership of 112 runs in 12 overs. Skipper Rishi Dhawan hit two crucial fours in the last over.
Two of Bengal’s most experienced and efficient fast bowlers went for plenty. While Mukesh conceded 40 from four overs without taking a wicket, Akash Deep ended with figures of one for 44 from three overs. A former fast bowler, Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla decided to stand by his players instead of being critical. “They did their best. We lost to a team which played better. It was a close game. We have to analyse where we went wrong. This is not the time to blame individuals,” he said.
Present at the ground as a spectator, former Bengal and India quick Ashok Dinda felt otherwise. “Mukesh has played for India A. And a bowler who has reached that level should back himself to defend 8-10 runs in an over, and he had 17 to defend. I am not saying 17 in an over does not happen in the IPL or international games. But in a domestic fixture, your premier bowler should not go for that many in a crunch situation. One should have the confidence to win the match for his team at such times,” said the former player and current BJP MLA.
Bengal were also let down by Shahbaz Ahmed, who has been selected for national duty in the ODI series against New Zealand. Known for his ability to contain runs, the left-hander returned figures of one for 37 in four overs. But he more than made up with the bat. Bengal were a below-par 66 for three after 10 overs, when the all-rounder hailing from Gurugram changed the complexion of the game by hitting 59 from 32 balls, including four sixes and as many fours.
Ritwik Roy Chowdhury and Pan were the others who made significant contributions. The former struck a belligerent 32 not out off 11 balls with a four and four sixes. Pan plundered 28 off just 10, hitting two fours and three sixes. At that stage, it seemed Bengal had done just about enough. The Himachal batters played fearless cricket and maintained a tempo throughout the innings that proved decisive.
Score: Bengal 199/6 in 20 overs lost to Himachal Pradesh 200/6 in 20 overs. Himachal enter Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy semi-finals.