Rishi Dhawan-led Himachal Pradesh have continued their exceptional run in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022. Himachal Pradesh beat Punjab by 13 runs in the semi-final to qualify for the first ever final in the history of the tournament. After winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier this year, they will now eye their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy.
In the run chase of 177, Abhishek Sharma struggled to score and lost his wicket to Rishi in the fourth over. Shubman Gill tried to use the fielding restrictions but Prabhsimran Singh could not use the fielding restrictions. Prabhsimran got out for a single-digit score as well. After six overs, Punjab had 32 runs on the board and the required run rate had gone over 10 runs per over.
A lot depended on Gill, the centurion of quarter-final. Mayank Dagar took the decisive wicket just before the halfway stage. Gill tried to go for slog sweep but found the deep square leg fielder. He scored 45 runs from 32 deliveries including seven fours and one six. Rishi came back into the attack and got the wicket of Pukhraj Mann. Anmolpreet Singh had played himself in but got out at a crucial stage. Akash Vasisht took his wicket in the 15th over. Anmolpreet scored 30 runs from 25 deliveries including three fours and one six.
Dagar struck again to remove Sanvir Singh. Skipper Mandeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh fought a lost battle in the slog overs. Ramandeep's 15-ball 29 cameo was ended by Rishi off the last ball of the penultimate over. The all-rounder took three wickets from his quota of four overs. In the final over, there was nothing much Mandeep could do for his side. He struck a four and a six but it was not enough as Punjab lost the match by 13 runs. He remained unbeaten for 15-ball 29.
Earlier Mandeep won the toss and opted to field first. Abhishek Sharma got the first breakthrough in the fourth over with the wicket of Prashant Chopra. Baltej Singh kept Abhimanyu Rana (2) under pressure and got the better of him in the sixth over. After powerplay overs, India had 36/2 on the board. Abhishek struck again to dismiss opener Ankush Bains (16) in the ninth over. He conceded just 20 runs from his quota of four overs.
Sumeet Verma provided the much-needed acceleration in the 10th over. He took on Mayank Markande and hit him for a four and two sixes. The leg-spinner conceded 19 runs from his first over. Verma continued the onslaught and reached his half-century in the 12th over from just 23 deliveries. Sanvir Singh got the much-needed wicket of Verma. He scored 51 runs from 25 deliveries including three fours and as many sixes.
Sanvir got another wicket of Nikhil Gangta 911) in his second over. Akash Vasisht and Pankaj Jaiswal utilised the slog overs well and stitched a 47-run partnership from just 26 deliveries. Vasisht played a terrific knock before getting dismissed by Harpreet Brar in the final over. He hit four fours and two sixes in his 25-ball 43. On the fourth delivery Pankaj got run out trying to come back for two runs. He contributed with a 16-ball 27 cameo.
Rishi helped Himachal Pradesh take the momentum with six runs off final two deliveries. They posted a fighting total of 176/7.