Anuj Rawat’s Onslaught Lights Up Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Quarter-Final

Delhi stormed into the semi-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after a scintillating display of batting by Anuj Rawat and disciplined bowling.

The quarter-final clash against Uttar Pradesh (UP) in Bengaluru turned into a showcase of Rawat’s brilliance, as he smashed an unbeaten 73 off just 33 balls to propel Delhi to a commanding total of 193.

Rawat’s Slow Start Transforms into Fireworks

Anuj Rawat began cautiously, scoring only 9 runs off his first 10 deliveries. However, his transformation in the death overs was nothing short of extraordinary.

From the 15th over onward, Rawat shifted gears, dismantling UP’s bowlers with precision and power. He struck six of his seven boundaries and all five of his sixes in this phase, ensuring Delhi’s strong finish.

The carnage started when Rawat hit Vineet Panwar for a four and a six. His onslaught continued in the 16th over when Shivam Mavi conceded 23 runs, including two identical swivel-pull sixes over fine leg.

By the time Rawat reached his half-century off 22 balls, he had whipped Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a massive six over deep square leg.

The final overs saw Rawat adding three more boundaries off Bhuvneshwar before closing Delhi’s innings in style with a towering six against Mavi.

Delhi, who were at 112 at the start of the 15th over, surged to 193, setting UP a daunting target.

A Faltering Start to UP’s Chase

UP’s chase lacked momentum from the outset, managing just 18 runs in the first three overs.

Priyam Garg tried to inject life into the innings by attacking Simarjeet Singh, lofting him over the bowler’s head and ramping him for consecutive sixes. However, his efforts couldn’t prevent UP’s slide to 51 for 3 by the seventh over.

The game’s intensity escalated during a heated exchange between Ayush Badoni and Nitish Rana.

In the 13th over of Delhi’s innings, Rana stopped mid-delivery twice, prompting Badoni to back out. Tempers flared when Rana later blocked Badoni’s path during a single, requiring umpire intervention to cool tensions.

Badoni eventually gave Rana a send-off during UP’s chase, adding drama to an already fiery contest.

Garg’s Lone Resistance

Priyam Garg continued to fight for UP, showcasing his skills with a four and a six against Prince Yadav in the 10th over.

He reached his half-century in the 11th, with brief support from Sameer Rizvi, who struck Suyash Sharma for a boundary behind point.

In the 12th over, Garg and Rizvi hit three boundaries off Simarjeet Singh, raising UP’s hopes. However, Simarjeet dismissed Garg with a return catch off a mistimed pull, ending his innings at 54. Garg’s efforts accounted for more than half of UP’s total at that stage, underlining the team’s dependence on him.

Late Entertainment from the Tail

UP’s tailenders, including Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohsin Khan, and Vineet Panwar, provided some entertainment in the final overs.

They combined for five boundaries and two sixes, narrowing the margin of defeat. However, the fact that the lower order was tasked with mounting a rescue effort highlighted the failure of UP’s top and middle order.

Delhi’s bowlers, led by Simarjeet Singh and Suyash Sharma, maintained their grip on the game, consistently picking up wickets and keeping UP under pressure. The chase ultimately ended at 174, falling 19 runs short of Delhi’s total.

A Commanding Win for Delhi

Delhi’s victory was a testament to their well-rounded performance, led by Anuj Rawat’s fireworks and complemented by their bowlers’ discipline.

With this win, Delhi advanced to the semi-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while UP was left to reflect on missed opportunities and an inconsistent batting display.

Rawat’s innings will undoubtedly be remembered as the highlight of the match, showcasing his ability to turn the tide and dominate in crucial moments.

As Delhi moves forward, they will hope to carry this momentum into the next stage of the tournament.