Delhi secured their spot in the semi-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, overcoming Uttar Pradesh by 19 runs in a high-energy quarter-final in Bengaluru. Anuj Rawat’s explosive knock of 73 not out off just 33 balls stole the spotlight, transforming Delhi’s innings in the closing overs.
Initially pacing himself at 9 runs off 10 balls, Rawat unleashed his fury from the 15th over onward, smashing six of his seven boundaries and all five sixes in that stretch. Delhi, who stood at 112 runs at the start of the 15th over, ended with a formidable 193 for 3. Rawat’s fireworks included punishing Vineet Panwar with a boundary and a six, followed by a 23-run over off Shivam Mavi featuring precise flicks and powerful pulls. He reached his half-century in just 22 balls and continued to dominate, ending Delhi’s innings with a towering six off Mavi.
Chasing 194, Uttar Pradesh struggled to build momentum. Despite Priyam Garg’s spirited 54 off 37 balls, the team faltered early, finding themselves at 51 for 3 after seven overs. Garg briefly ignited UP’s hopes with a series of confident shots, including sixes over the bowler’s head and deep third, but his dismissal in the 12th over marked the beginning of the end. Simarjeet Singh claimed the crucial wicket when Garg’s mistimed pull ended in a top-edge caught return.
Delhi’s bowlers kept UP’s batters in check throughout, with only sporadic resistance coming from Sameer Rizvi’s quick 26 and some late fireworks from tailenders Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohsin Khan, and Vineet Panwar. Their efforts, which included five boundaries and two sixes, added some drama but were far from enough to reach Delhi’s imposing total.
Adding a touch of controversy to the game, Ayush Badoni and Nitish Rana had a heated exchange during Delhi’s innings, culminating in Badoni dismissing Rana and giving him a fiery send-off. The incident, though brief, drew loud reactions from the sparse crowd.
Delhi’s well-rounded performance, powered by Rawat’s late blitz and disciplined bowling, ensured they emerged victorious and set the stage for the semi-finals. UP’s reliance on individual brilliance and lower-order hitting underlined the challenges they faced against a more cohesive Delhi side.