All-round Mumbai go past MP by 5 wickets to clinch Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Bengaluru, Dec 15: Mumbai leaned on their collective batting strength to subdue a spirited Madhya Pradesh by five wickets to clinch the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy here on Sunday.
Mumbai were stretched on more than one occasion during the chase of 175, a target MP built around skipper Rajat Patidar's fluent unbeaten 81, on a slightly tacky pitch, but eventually they reached 180 for five in 17.5 overs.
This was Mumbai's second SMAT title after winning it for the first time in 2022, while MP's wait for a maiden trophy prolonged to another season.
After a brief period of lull, Suryakumar Yadav (48, 35b, 4x4, 3x6) reactivated his run-making ways and added 52 runs for the third wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (37, 30b, 4x4).
It helped Mumbai to recover from the early dismissals of Prithvi Shaw and skipper Shreyas Iyer, both of them falling to rather causal shots.
Just when it seemed that the two veteran batters would carry Mumbai home, Rahane slashed Venkatesh Iyer straight into the hands of Rahul Batham at deep.
Suryakumar followed soon, top-edging off-spinner Shivam Shukla to Avesh Khan at short fine leg.
At 129 for five in 14.4 overs, Mumbai needed 46 runs but any worries were soon eased by the big-hitting Suryansh Shedge (36 not out, 15b, 3x4, 3x6) and Atharva Ankolekar (16 not out, 6b, 2x6) who knocked off the remaining runs without much fuss in a little over three overs.
Earlier, Patidar shone brightly while hammering his fifth fifty of this tournament.
The right-hander, who was retained by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, entertained an over 15,000-crowd, who backed him and MP to the hilt, with twinkling shot-making.
In fact, Patidar singlehandedly held the MP innings together as the next highest was a 23 by Shubhranshu Senapati.
Madhya Pradesh had made a rather sedate beginning to their innings after losing openers Arpit Gaud (3) and Harsh Gawli (2).
They reached 38 for two in the Power Play, which later transpired to 114 for five in 15 overs.
However, Patidar found an able ally in Batham (19, 14b) as they added 56 runs for the sixth wicket as MP added 60 runs in the last five overs.
Patidar, a clean-striker of the balls, too upped the level of his play, as indicated by a stunning walk-across-the-line six off pacer Shardul Thakur.
But individual brilliance was not enough to stop the Mumbai juggernaut on the night.
Brief scores:
Madhya Pradesh: 174/8 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 81 not out, Subhranshu Senapati 23; Shardul Thakur 2/41, Royston Dias 2/32) lost to
Mumbai: 180/5 in 17.5 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 48, Ajinkya Rahane 37, Suryansh Shedge 36 not out; Tripuresh Singh 2/34) by 5 wickets.
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'I am diehard secular, patriotic Indian': Bengal minister Firhad Hakim after row over comments
Kolkata, Dec 15: Under attack from the BJP, Congress and a section of Hindu monks for his purported remarks about "low percentage of Muslims in West Bengal and India", senior state minister and TMC leader Firhad Hakim on Sunday asserted his strong belief in secular and patriotic values.
Addressing minority students at an event here on Friday, the state Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister had purportedly said, "In West Bengal, we (Muslims) are 33 per cent and nationwide, we are 17 per cent."
Advocating that minorities should strive for reaching a position where they can assert themselves more forcefully and their call for justice is acknowledged, Hakim had said, "We may be minorities numerically, but by Allah's grace, we can become so powerful that we will not need to hold candlelight rallies for justice. We will be in a position where we will become the majority in the true sense of empowerment."
Asked about the row triggered by his comments, Hakim told reporters on Sunday on the sidelines of a programme, "I am a diehard secular and patriotic Indian. No one can question my secular values and love for my country. Period."
Senior monk of Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS), Kartik Maharaj, alleged that instead of laying emphasis on education and economic uplift of Muslims, Hakim spoke about increasing their numbers, "which will aid and abet infiltration in the state".
"We would not have minded had Firhad Hakim solely talked about undertaking economic development measures for Muslims. But analyse why he referred to the percentage of Muslims in our population. Does he wish to turn West Bengal into another Bangladesh?" Maharaj said at a religious event 'Lakh kanthe Gita paath' (chanting Gita in one lakh voices) at Siliguri on Sunday.
Former BJP MP Dilip Ghosh said Hakim's comments "reveal the gameplan of communal elements in TMC to turn West Bengal into Bangladesh, and secede it from India".
Former Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Choudhury said, "Both BJP and TMC are playing the dangerous game of religion-based politics. While the BJP is encouraging Hindu fundamentalists to consolidate its position among the majority vote bank, the TMC is cosying up with both Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists for narrow political gains."
"The comments of Firhad Hakim reveal the sinister gameplan to indulge Muslim fundamentalist elements," the former PCC president said.
Hakim, in his speech, had purportedly stressed Muslims' need to work towards a position where their "voices are automatically heard". He also highlighted the under-representation of Muslims in the judiciary. Hakim suggested that through empowerment and hard work, this gap could be bridged.
A video of Hakim's speech went viral on social media, but its authenticity could not be independently verified by PTI.
Defending Hakim, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the minister's comments were deliberately misinterpreted and twisted.
"What he meant was the uplift of a large number of minority community members so that they can join mainstream society and contribute to nation-building. Certain elements are trying to give a different spin to his views," Ghosh said.
He further asserted that Hakim's secular and liberal values are well-known, and that he actively participates in various religious festivals while promoting communal harmony.
BJP's IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya criticised Hakim's statement, accusing him of suggesting that West Bengal and India will soon have a Muslim majority.
He claimed Hakim's vision hinted at Muslims taking justice into their own hands, potentially signalling support for Sharia law.
"Kolkata's Mayor Firhad Hakim previously revealed his true intentions by describing non-Muslims as 'unfortunate' and endorsing Dawat-e-Islam's efforts to convert Hindus to Islam. He has now claimed that West Bengal, along with the rest of India, will soon have a Muslim majority," Malviya posted on X.
"Hakim envisions a future where Muslims will no longer rely on peaceful protests or marches but will take justice into their own hands, potentially hinting at Sharia law," he added.
