Saurashtra’s first wicket fell in the second over itself, but after that there was chaos on the field for the next 10 overs. Pujara and Samarth put together 159 runs in 86 balls.
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On October 14, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, something stormy happened. Not one but two batsmen were seen raining down on the team of Nagaland and their bowlers. Actually, this match was between Saurashtra and Nagaland. Saurashtra team batted first in the match. Cheteshwar Pujara landed on the opening and the aggressive style he showed in the T20 match was never seen before. Such Pujara, who rained on the bowlers of Nagaland, was not alone, but apart from him, Samarth Vyas also tried to break their spirits by making sharp attacks.
Saurashtra did not start well against Nagaland. The opening pair broke for just 14 runs. But, after that the pair of Cheteshwar Pujara and Samarth Vyas were on such a ground that it became difficult for the Nagaland bowlers to break them. Saurashtra’s first wicket fell in the second over itself, but after that there was chaos on the field for the next 10 overs.
Pujara and Samarth added 159 runs
Pujara and Samarth put together a flurry of fours and sixes for the second wicket. There was a partnership of 159 runs between the two and these runs were made in just 86 balls. During this, both together scored 9 sixes and 16 fours against Nagaland. That is, 118 runs were scored by both of them only from the boundaries.
Pujara scored 62 runs in 35 balls, Samarth scored 97 runs in 51 balls
Cheteshwar Pujara scored 62 runs off 35 balls. Played at a strike rate of 177.14, this innings included 9 fours and 2 sixes. During this, he completed his half-century in 27 balls. At the same time, Samarth Vyas scored 97 runs in 51 balls with the help of 7 fours and 7 sixes. Samarth’s strike rate was 190.19. Now if we add fours and sixes of these two batsmen, then their total comes to 9 sixes and 16 fours.
Let us tell you that this is the first half-century of both Samarth and Pujara in this Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Thanks to this innings of Pujara and Samarth, Saurashtra scored 203 for 5 in 20 overs and set a target of 204 runs in front of Nagaland.
Cheteshwar Pujara was not bought by any franchise in the mega auction of IPL 2022. But after playing such innings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, it is expected that in the coming season, the mood of a franchise can be changed in his name.