Tamil Nadu win 3rd Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after Shahrukh Khan’s last-over heroics sinks Karnataka in final

Tamil Nadu became the most successful team in the history of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy history as they won their 3rd title on Monday in New Delhi, outclassing arch-rivals Karnataka in a thrilling final. Big-hitter Shahrukh Khan pulled off a stunning heist as he hit a 15-ball 33, including a last-ball six when Tamil Nadu needed 5 runs in the last delivery of their 152-run chase at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Tamil Nadu have successfully averaged their 1-run defeat in the 2019 final as they broke Karnataka hearts with Shahrukh Khan’s last-ball six. It was also the end of Karnataka’s perfect record in the finals of domestic while-ball tournaments.

WHAT. A. FINISH!

A last-ball SIX from @shahrukh_35 does the trick!

Tamil Nadu hold their nerve & beat the spirited Karnataka side by 4 wickets to seal the title-clinching victory. #TNvKAR #SyedMushtaqAliT20 #Final

Scorecard https://t.co/RfCtkN0bjq pic.twitter.com/G2agPC795B

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) November 22, 2021

Karnataka posted only 151 on a good batting pitch as they recovered from aa top-order wobble only to be anchored by impressive Abhinav Manohar hit a crucial 47 in the middle-order. However, Manish Pandey’s men game all guns blazing on the field.

Hari Nishanth hit a quickfire 23 from just 12 balls, giving Tamil Nadu a strong start in their run- chase but he was run-out after which Karun Nair got the wicket of Sai Suddharsan in the 8th over.

Opener Narayan Jagadeesan struggled to get going in the middle overs as the wicketkeeper along with Vijay Shankar let the asking rate shoot up due to lack of boundaries. Jagadeesan managed only 41 from 56 balls while captain Shankar was dismissed for 18 from 22 balls.

SHAHRUKH KHAN SINKS KARNATAKA

Tamil Nadu were pegged back by mystery spinner KC Caiappa in the 16th over as he got Shankar and Jagadeesan in successive deliveries in the 16th over.

Tamil Nadu needed 57 runs in 22 balls when Shahrukh Khan walked into the middle. The Punjab Kings star kept is composure and delivered big, hitting 3 sixes and a boundary. Tamil Nadu needed 16 runs in the last over but Sai Kishore and Shahrukh made sure the defending champions got past the finish line.

Left-arm pacer Prateek Jain tried to hit the boot of Shahrukh Khan but the big-hitter picked up the delivery and flicked it into the mid-wicket stands and set off for a victory celebration lap.

Brief Score – SMAT 2021 Final: Tamil Nadu 153/7 in 20 overs (Jagadeesan 41, Shahrukh 33*; Cariappa 2/23) defeat Karnataka 151/7 in 20 overs (Manohar 46, Dubey 33; Sai 3/12) by 4 wickets in New Delhi.