Venkatesh Iyer's all-round display seals semi-final spot for MP after 13 years

Venkatesh Iyer’s all-round performance sealed a semi-final spot for Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024. MP defeated Saurashtra in a last-over finish in the quarterfinal in Alur and will play in a semi-final for the first time in 13 years. 

MP qualified for the semi-final only once, back in 2011 when they defeated Haryana by 2 wickets. However, they lost the final by 1 run against Bengal. Harpreet Singh Bhatia, who hit the winning runs today including a six in the final over, is the only player to be a part of both these teams for MP. 

Iyer, the Player of the Match, picked 2/23 with the ball in his two overs, dismissing Sammar Gajjar and Ruchit Ahir. Later, batting at four, Iyer scored an unbeaten 38 off 33 balls with two fours and two sixes. When he walked out to bat, MP needed 112 to win from 77 deliveries. 

The last two partnerships added 72 runs for MP from only 39 balls with Rajat Patidar (28 off 18) and Harpreet (22* off 9) playing aggressors in the second half of the innings. 

For Saurashtra, Chirag Jani smashed 80 not out off just 45 balls. However, no other batter could get even into the 20s as the team could only post 173/7.

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