Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Tamil Nadu thrash Baroda by 7 wickets as they gunned down 121 in just 18.4 overs

'Invincibles' Tamil Nadu overwhelmed third-time finalists Baroda by seven wickets to claim their second Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) title at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday. Tamil Nadu had won their first Syed Mushtaq Ali title in 2006/07. Notably, both title wins came under Dinesh Karthik's captaincy, 14 years apart.

Title favourites needed just 18 overs to gun down the paltry target of 121 in what turned out to be one of the most one-sided finals in the history of SMAT. Led by opener Hari Nishanth's 35 and a terrific M Siddharth, Tamil Nadu looked like a well-oiled machine as they proved yet again why they are the most dominant side of the Syed



Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021.

Chasing 121, Tamil Nadu openers Hari Nishanth and N Jagadeeshan put on 26 runs for the first wicket, and Baroda finally ended the stand in the fourth over as Lukman Meriwala dismissed Jagadeeshan (14). Baba Aparajith and Nishanth then combined to forge a 41-run stand for the second wicket.

However, Baroda clawed their way back as Babashafi Pathan dismissed Nishanth (35) in the 12th over, reducing Baroda to 67/2. Karthik and Aparajith ensured that Tamil Nadu did not suffer from more hiccups. Tamil Nadu side with the right blend of youth and experience under Dinesh Karthik, hardly looked in any sort of trouble in the summit clash against Baroda.