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The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024 witnessed a sensational Group C clash between Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Jharkhand at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium. The star of the show was none other than UP skipper Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose stunning hat-trick turned the match in his team’s favor.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Hat-Trick: A masterclass in bowling
In a gripping moment during the 17th over of Jharkhand’s innings, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the seasoned righꦺt-arm medium-fast bowler, etched his name into the record books with a breathtaki🌞ng hat-trick.
The first wicket came as Robin Minz, batting on 11, attempted to hit the ball for a boundary but ended up being caught by Priyam Garg. The scoreboard read 116 when Minz departed. On the very next ball, Bal Krishna nicked an angled delivery while attempting a leg-side shot, gifting an easy catch to wicketkeeper Aryan Juyal and departing for a golden duck.
The hat-trick ball was a beauty, an inswinging delivery that left Vivekanand Tiwari completely bamboozled as it crashed into the stumps, sending the bails flying. The 🍌crowd erupted in applause as Kumar celebrated his remarkable feat.
Here is the video:
1⃣6⃣.1⃣ – Wicket ✅
1⃣6⃣.2⃣ – Wicket ✅
1⃣6⃣.3⃣ – Wicket ✅Watch Bhuvneshwar's terrific hat-trick that helped Uttar Pradesh beat Jharkhand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai 👌👌 |
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— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic)
Bhuvneshwar’s match-turning s🌳pell earned him the well-deserved Pಌlayer of the Match award. His precision and ability to deliver under pressure showcased why he remains one of the most reliable bowlers.
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Jharkhand’s spirited chase falls short
Jharkhand won the toss and elected to bowl first, aiming to exploit the conditions. Uttar Pradesh, despite losing wickets at regular intervals, managed to post a respectable 160/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Contributions from the middle order ensured the team reac⛎hed a competitive total. Jharkhand’s Krishna was the standout bowler, claiming three cr꧂ucial wickets to keep the Uttar Pradesh batters in check.
Chasing 161 for victory, Jharkhand’s innings revolved around a brilliant knock by Anukul Roy, who smashed 91 runs in a valiant effort. However, his heroics weren’t enough, as Jharkhand faltered under𓄧 pressure and were bowled out for 150 in 19.5 overs and loss the match by 10 runs.
