5 months ago
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As the radical signifier of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 home contention enters its location stretch, 10 teams stay successful contention for the 4 Super League spots up for grabs up of the last circular connected Monday.
Defending champion Mumbai and Andhra from Group A, on with Jharkhand and Rajasthan from Group D, person already secured their spots successful the eight-team Super League phase, which begins connected Friday successful Pune.
Mumbai, on with Andhra, has precocious from Group A. | Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA
Group B wide open
The contention successful Group B is wide open, with arsenic galore arsenic six teams successful the contention for a top-two decorativeness successful Kolkata. Table-topper Hyderabad, the lone squad with 5 wins successful the group, is primed to suffice for the adjacent circular arsenic it faces a struggling Chandigarh side, which has won conscionable 2 of its six matches and sits seventh connected the eight-team table.
The Rajat Patidar-led Madhya Pradesh and Goa, placed 2nd and 3rd with 4 wins each, volition combat it retired for the remaining spot erstwhile they look disconnected against Jammu & Kashmir and Maharashtra, respectively.
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir, with 3 wins each, lone person a slim accidental of sneaking done to the adjacent round.
Meanwhile, Bihar, the lone win-less squad successful the Elite part aft six matches, volition anticipation to debar relegation, on with Himachal Pradesh, Services and Tripura, who each person conscionable 1 triumph apiece.
The script successful Group C, taking spot successful Hyderabad, is much straightforward. Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana and Bengal are each tied connected 4 points each. With Haryana locking horns with Bengal, and Punjab facing Gujarat aboriginal successful the day, it sets up a tantalising final-round shootout for the apical 2 spots. However, with swashbuckling India opener Abhishek Sharma apt to miss the match, his lack could wounded Punjab erstwhile it matters the most.
Punjab volition miss the services of Abhishek. | Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri
For Mumbai and Andhra, it volition beryllium much astir warming up for the adjacent circular arsenic they look Vidarbha and Odisha, respectively, astatine the Ekana Cricket Stadium here.
With 5 wins each, they volition lone vie for the rod presumption successful Group A. Kerala, aft a timid batting show successful a must-win lucifer against Andhra connected Saturday, volition anticipation to bow retired connected a high, though it volition beryllium without skipper Sanju Samson, who has near for nationalist duty.
Ishan Kishan’s Jharkhand and Rajasthan, ascendant and unbeaten successful the contention truthful far, volition beryllium connected a collision people successful the last circular arsenic they look disconnected against each different successful Ahmedabad.
Tamil Nadu is going done a horrid SMAT campaign. | Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI
That three-time champion Tamil Nadu, placed seventh successful Group D, volition lone beryllium warring to debar finishing last, is simply a poignant reminder of the vagaries of nonrecreational athletics and the value of consistency adjacent successful the changeless flux of T20 cricket.
