The Rajasthan cricket team extended its winning streak in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 to five with a dominant six-wicket victory over Madhya Pradesh at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Saturday.
With the win, Rajasthan strengthened their grip on the top of the SMAT 2024 Group A standings with 20 points from five outings. Madhya Pradesh, who lost their first match of the campaign, are second with 16 points from as many matches.
The victory also puts Rajasthan in a favourable position to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the ongoing T20 cricket tournament.
Abhijeet Tomar scored an unbeaten 42-ball 66 to help Rajasthan comfortably chase down Madhya Pradesh’s total of 139/8 in just 16.2 overs.
Rajasthan captain Mahipal Lomror called it right at the coin toss and sent the Madhya Pradesh cricket team out to bat first on a slow wicket.
Aniket Choudhary and Manav Suthar made good use of the early help on the offing at Rajkot and quickly dismissed Arpit Gaud, Subhranshu Senapati and MP captain Rajat Patidar to help Rajasthan to a dream start.
Abhishek Pathak was looking good on 29 but his run out early in the 11th over had MP struggling at 4-63.
Harpreet Singh scored a patient 36-ball 41 and with a little help from Venkatesh Iyer (16) and Tripuresh Singh (14*), helped Madhya Pradesh salvage 139/8 on the board in their 20 overs.
Suthar, with figures of 2/17 in his four overs, was the pick of the Rajasthan bowlers while Aniket, Deepak Hooda, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Deepak Chahar scalped one wicket each.
Bharat Sharma got Rajasthan’s chase off to a brisk start before being knocked over by Kumar Kartikeya for 25 off 15.
Kartikeya, who was picked by the Rajasthan Royals for the Indian Premier League during the recent auction, would also go on to account for Deepak Hooda (26) and Kartik Sharma (5) while Avesh Khan had Shubham Garhwal caught. But a masterful half-century by Tomar, laden with three fours and five sixes, saw Rajasthan past the finish line without too much trouble.
Kartikeya picked up three wickets but was taken for 36 runs in his four overs.
Rajasthan will play Punjab in their next match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 on Tuesday.
Madhya Pradesh vs Rajasthan, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, brief scores: MP 139/8 in 20 overs (Harpreet Singh 41, Manav Suthar 2/17) lost to RAJ 143/4 (Abhijeet Tomar 66*, Kumar Kartikeya 3/36) by six wickets.
