After a run-out referral added to the tension, Himmat Singh threw everything behind his final-ball slash, sending it for a six when two were needed, as Delhi edged Tamil Nadu in a pulse-racing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite Group-D second-round clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Friday.
Shahrukh Khan at sweeper leapt, stretched an arm, and got a hand to it — but only enough to tip the ball over the rope. Chasing 199, Delhi got home by six wickets — and its dugout erupted.
With three needed off two, Himmat tapped left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh towards long-off and took off instantly — a single for certain, a second born of desperation. But there was chaos in the running between Himmat and Anuj Rawat. The former had already run short on the first dash, and now the pair turned again as the fielder charged in, scooped, and fired a bullet throw to the striker’s end. The keeper gathered and whipped off the bails.
All eyes turned to the signal. The third umpire rolled through angle after angle, frame after frame. It was incredibly close. And then, finally, the verdict flashed: not out. Gurjapneet bowled a nervy full toss outside off for the final ball and paid the price.
Earlier, Yash Dhull (71, 46b, 4×4, 4×6) and Ayush Badoni (41, 23b, 5×4, 1×6) added 61 runs off 31 balls for the third-wicket stand. Dhull dialled up the pressure on left-arm spinner Sai Kishore — first slicing a wide one through extra cover for four, then raising his fifty with a six to cow corner, and repeating the shot for another six before the over closed.
For Tamil Nadu, opener Tushar Raheja led the way with a career-best 72 (41b, 7×4, 3×6) while his partner Amith Sathvik registered his maiden T20 fifty (54, 40b, 8×4, 1×6). Together, the pair added 115 runs off 72 balls.
The scores: Ahmedabad: Elite: Group-D: Tamil Nadu 198/7 in 20 overs (Amith Sathvik 54, Tushar Raheja 72, Prince Yadav 3/43) lost to Delhi 203/4 in 20 overs (Yash Dhull 71, Priyansh Arya 35, Nitish Rana 34, Ayush Badoni 41); Toss: Delhi; Points: Delhi 4 (4), TN 0 (0).
Saurashtra 183/7 in 20 overs (Prerak Mankad 52, Jay Gohil 30, Ruchit Ahir 30 n.o., Jagadeesha Suchith 3/20) lost to Uttarakhand 184/4 in 18.1 overs (Kunal Chandela 94, Aanjaneya Suryavanshi 73 n.o.); Toss: Saurashtra; Points: Uttarakhand 4 (4), Saurashtra 0 (4).
Tripura 169/6 in 20 overs (Hanuma Vihari 36, Sridam Paul 37, Manisankar Murasingh 40, Kamlesh Nagarkoti 3/34) lost to Rajasthan 171/5 in 18.5 overs (Shubham Garhwal 50, Kunal Singh Rathore 33 n.o., Swapnil Singh 3/42); Toss: Rajasthan; Points: Rajasthan 4 (8), Tripura 0 (0).