Syed Mushtaq Ali T20: Tripura Seal First Win
Agartala, Dec 2: Tripura finally opened their account in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (SMAT) today defeating Delhi.
While, it’s first victory for Tripura in ongoing SMAT, it is for the first time ever that Delhi lost to Tripura in domestic cricket, reported Sports Star.
The State team clinched a 12-run victory over Delhi in their fourth outing on Tuesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
While the much-needed win boosted the team’s morale, the match also exposed the continued failure of Tripura’s batters to convert promising starts into substantial scores.
Put in to bat after winning the toss, Tripura’s batters showed urgency early on but repeatedly squandered opportunities to build big innings.
Despite multiple players reaching double digits comfortably, none managed to carry on, forcing the team to settle for a modest 157/5 in the allotted 20 overs.
Sreedam Pal’s brisk 29 off 20 balls, studded with three sixes, topped the scoring chart but fell short of the momentum Tripura needed.
Opener Bikram Kumar Das made 28 off 24 balls with five boundaries, skipper Moni Shankar Mura Singh contributed 25 off 18 balls, while Swapnil Singh (21), Hanuma Vihari (19) and Sentu Sarkar (18) all got starts but failed to push beyond.
The repeated pattern of mid-innings stagnation once again kept Tripura from breaching the 180-run mark.
For Delhi, Suyash Sharma (2/16) and Digvijay (2/34) were the most successful bowlers.
Defending a below-par target, Tripura’s bowlers rose to the occasion with a disciplined and persistent attack that rattled Delhi from the outset.
Early pressure saw Delhi lose Priyansh Arya cheaply, though Yash Dhull and captain Nitish Rana attempted to rebuild with a steady stand.
Their resistance, however, was not enough to counter Tripura’s sustained grip over the game.
Delhi eventually finished at 145/8, falling 12 runs short. Rana top-scored with a gritty 45 off 40 balls, followed by Dhull’s 25 off 19. Tejaswi (23), Anuj Rawat (16) and Ayush Badoni (14) contributed brief cameos but, much like Tripura’s innings, could not convert starts into meaningful scores.
Tripura’s bowling unit delivered collectively, with Mani Shankar Mura Singh (2/19) and Vicky Saha (2/29) picking up crucial wickets at key moments.
Despite the win, the spotlight remains firmly on Tripura’s batting inconsistencies—a concern the team must address quickly as they prepare for their next clash.
Tripura will face Tamil Nadu on December 4 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with the contest scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm.
