Bengal have done it! They have advanced to the quarter-final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, beating Chandigarh by 3 runs. Sayan Ghosh's spell of 4/30 turned the game on it's head. Not to forget Shami's batting blitzkrieg at the end of Bengal's innings, where he smashed a 17-ball 32 to lead the former champs to a formidable total.

BEN 159/9 (20)

CDG 156/9 (20)

Welcome to the live coverage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. Today, we begin the knock out rounds.

Squads:

Chandigarh Squad: Arslan Khan, Manan Vohra(c), Shivam Bhambri, Amrit Lubana, Pradeep Yadav(w), Gaurav Puri, Nikhil Sharma, Jagjit Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Nishunk Birla, Chiragvir Dhindsa, Raj Bawa, Bhagmender Lather, Mayank Sidhu, Arjun Azad

Bengal Squad: Abishek Porel(w), Karan Lal, Sudip Kumar Gharami(c), Shakir Gandhi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Writtick Chatterjee, Mohammed Kaif, Agniv Pan, Mohammed Shami, Pradipta Pramanik, Sayan Ghosh, Kanishk Seth, Ishan Porel, Ritwik Chowdhury, Prayas Barman, Sakshaim Chaudhary, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Ranjot Khaira, Soumyadip Mandal, Sudip Chatterjee.

Mohammed Shami could fly to Australia soon as IND skipper Rohit Sharma said the veteran will be in the reckoning for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“The door is very much open. We are just monitoring him because he got some swelling in the knee while playing the Syed Mushtaq Ali which obviously hampers his preparation to play a Test match. We don’t want to bring him here in a situation where he pulls up sore or something happens. We want to be more than 100 per cent sure with him because it’s been such a long time since he hasn’t played cricket,” Rohit said after the second Test in Adelaide.

Chandigarh captain Manan Vohra has won the toss and elected field first in the 1st Pre-quarterfinal of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024.

Bengal (Playing XI): Abishek Porel(w), Karan Lal, Sudip Kumar Gharami(c), Shakir Gandhi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Writtick Chatterjee, Agniv Pan, Mohammed Shami, Pradipta Pramanik, Sayan Ghosh, Kanishk Seth

Chandigarh (Playing XI): Arslan Khan, Manan Vohra(c), Shivam Bhambri, Amrit Lubana, Raj Bawa, Pradeep Yadav(w), Bhagmender Lather, Nikhil Sharma, Jagjit Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Nishunk Birla

Bengal is batting first so fans won't be able to get Mohammed Shami in action just yet. However, there are other stars that will be action. The likes of Raj Bawa, Manan Vohra will be in action.

Bengal have scored 30 runs in the first five overs but have lost three wickets including Abishek Porel. CDG have made use of the early conditions and struck wisely. Chandigarh bowler Jagjit Singh (16) has become the season’s highest wicket-taker.

BEN 30/3 (5 Overs)

Jagjit Singh has taken 16 wickets in this SMAT 2024 tournament and across 7 innings, the Chandigarh pacer has averaged 13.25.

Bengal have lost half their side in Bengaluru in the 1st pre-quarterfinal against Chandigarh. Despite some big shots, they have not converted into big scores and has cost them dearly.

BEN 79/5 (10 Overs)

All eyes on Pradipta Pramanik as he will be key for Bengal to get a decent score here. The former champions have exploded as far as their batting is concerned and will be needing a great few overs, if they are to get to somewhere around 150-160.

Bengal are in deep, deep trouble against Chandigarh in Bengaluru in the 1st pre-quarterfinal of the SMAT 2024. Batting first, Bengal are seven down to Chandigarh and will need some big overs at the death to get a decent score on the board.

BEN 114/7 (15 Overs)

Mohammed Shami watch - The veteran cricketer has come out to bat after Bengal's batting has imploded. With four remaining and two wickets left, Shami could some much-needed batting practice ahead of the IND vs AUS series.

Chants of 'Shami, Shami' reverberating inside the stadium with a sparse crowd who have come to watch the game. And the cricketer has not disappointed with some slog hits.

Mohammed Shami blitzkrieg in Bengaluru. Hope some of Team India cricketers are watching the Bengal pacer's batting Down Under. Shami blasted a 17-ball 32 to help the former champions post 159/9 in 20 overs. That's some effort after they were reeling at 138/9. Extraordinary batting from Shami.

BEN 159/9 (20 Overs)

Shami with the bat and now with the ball. In his first over, the 34-year-old pacer has struck as he dismissed Chandigarh's Arslan Khan for a first-ball duck. Bengal have started on a positive note.

CDG - 0/1

BEN 159/9 (20 Overs)

Bengal took two wickets inside the five overs with Mohammed Shami striking in the 1st over. CDG require 160 to win but Bengal are doing everything in their might to stop Manan Vohra-led side to reach that total.

CDG - 27/2 (5 Overs)

BEN 159/9 (20 Overs)

Bengal are all over Chandigarh. The Manan Vohra-led side require 98 runs in 60 balls but have lost four wickets in the process. Shami has bowled three overs and given away 13 runs with one wicket to his name.

CDG - 62/4 (10 Overs)

BEN 159/9 (20 Overs)

Chandigarh need 53 runs in 30 balls but have five wickets remaining. Bengal bowlers have bowled really well and have not given away easy runs. The last few over have seen CDG batters go on the attack but one tight over and the former champs could get the result in their favour.

CDG - 107/5 (15 Overs)

BEN 159/9 (20 Overs)

A few hits and misses, wickets tumbling and Mohammed Shami still yet to bowl. Bengal vs Chandigarh is serving everything one T20 match could ask for.

CDG - 134/6 (17 Overs)

BEN 159/9 (20 Overs)

How important was that 17-ball 32 knock from Mohammed Shami in the final over. He has the ball in hand now and will look to close the game and take Bengal to victory.

11 runs required of the final over. Shami's final over sees 12 runs come of the over and hand Chandigarh a lifeline. Who will win?