Shami sizzles with the bat as Bengal clinch thriller

In a nail biting contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Bengal progressed to the quarter finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after eking out a win by three runs against Chandigarh.

Mohammed Shami starred with the bat as his thrilling cameo dragged Bengal to a fighting total before Sayan Ghosh picked 4 for 30 to restrict Chandigarh to 156 for 9 in pursuit of 160.

Bengal were pegged back early on with quick wickets as they were reeling at 21 for 3 in the PowerPlay and further fell to 114 for 8 in the 16th over. But Shami played a blistering cameo of 32 in just 17 balls comprising three fours and two sixes while his partner Pradipta Pramanik scored 30 off 24 deliveries.

Shami then struck with his third ball to dismiss Arslan Khan as the cover-point fielder took a wonderful diving catch. Sayan Ghosh and Shabaz Ahmed continued to chip away at regular intervals to have the chasing side down at 56 for 4 to put Bengal marginally ahead.

However, a 45-run stand in five overs between Raj Bawa and Pradeep Yadav meant that Chandigarh were not down and out yet. Sayan returned to dismiss the threatening Bawa while Kanishk Seth picked up Pradeep Yadav.

Just when all hope seemed lost, Chandigarh scored 12 off Shami in the penultimate over to give themselves a chance but it proved futile in the end courtesy of Sayan's heroics.

Brief Scores:

• Bengal: 159 for 9 in 20 overs (Karan Lal 33, Mohammed Shami 32*)
• Chandigarh: 156 for 9 in 20 overs (Raj Bawa 32, Manan Vohra 23; Sayan Ghosh 4-30)