[Watch] Punjab Celebrate Maiden SMAT Title After Defeating Pandya’s Baroda In 2023 Final
Punjab captain Mandeep Singh exults after SMAT 2023 win (BCCI Domestic)
Punjab, under Mandeep Singh, defeated Krunal Pandya’s Baroda in a high-scoring Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2023 thriller to bag their first-ever T20 trophy.
Middle-order batter Anmolpreet Singh top-scored in the match with a 61-ball 113, while speed veteran Arshdeep Singh claimed four Baroda wickets in their fruitless run-chase as Punjab prevailed by 20 runs at Mohali’s INS Bindra Stadium.
Punjab defeated Krunal Pandya-led Baroda by 20 runs in the final of the 2023 SMAT season to clinch their first-ever T20 title. Featuring the likes of captain Mandeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, and Indian international Arshdeep Singh in their ranks; the team outclassed third-time title chasers Baroda in all aspects of their blockbuster showdown in Mohali.
Watch: Punjab players celebrating SMAT 2023 win
Earlier in the match, Punjab batters stacked up 223-4 after being put into bat first by Krunal Pandya. Anmolpreet Singh at number three bludgeoned 10 boundaries and six sixes on his way to shaping up a 61-ball 113. Nehal Wadhera clubbed an unbeaten 27-ball 61 in the death overs, while captain Mandeep Singh listed 32 from his end.
Later in the evening, seasoned veteran Arshdeep Singh delivered a tight four-over spell, conceding just 23 runs while claiming the wickets of Pandya, Shivalik Sharma, and Bhanu Pania in an aggressive three-wicket burst in the penultimate over of the match. The speedster eventually finished with figures of 4-23 from his four overs, while Harpreet Brar and Mayank Markande also pocketed a wicket each in their spells.