Tamil Nadu hold off Railways by 6 runs despite Toufik Mondal's 22-ball 57तौफीक मंडल के 22 गेंद में 57 के बावजूद तमिलनाडु ने रेलवे को 6 रन से हराया

Tamil Nadu survived a late Railways surge to win Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite Match 5 by 6 runs at The Daly College, Indore. Railways were set 173 and ended on 166/9, with a seventh-wicket partnership that threatened to turn the game before it fell just short.

Tamil Nadu build a competitive total

Tamil Nadu finished their 20 overs on 172/7. Shahrukh Khan was the backbone of the innings, remaining unbeaten on 46 from 30 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes.

Amith Sathvik gave the innings early impetus with 38 off 28 balls, hitting 7 fours. B Sachin added 33 from 34 balls, and Rajkumar Ravichandiran provided a sharp burst of 31 off just 13 balls, including 3 sixes. Shahrukh and Rajkumar also put on 55 runs in 33 balls for the fifth wicket, a stand that lifted the total.

Railways shared the wickets among their bowlers. Atal Bihari Rai took 2/37, Zuber Ali 2/41 and Pradhyumn Parikh 2/29, while Mohit Raut claimed 1/25.

Toufik Mondal and Zuber Ali make it tense

Railways' chase of 173 had its most dramatic moment through Toufik Mondal. He struck 57 off 22 balls, with 5 fours and 5 sixes. Zuber Ali, who had also bowled in the first innings, contributed 46 off 37 balls with 6 fours and a six. Together they added 69 runs in 31 balls for the seventh wicket, a partnership that brought Railways back into a contest that had looked difficult.

Ravi Singh chipped in with 24 off 14 balls, and Mohammad Saif made 11 off 17, but Railways could not complete the chase and finished at 166/9.

The bowlers who protected the target

Tamil Nadu's bowlers made the difference. Athisayaraj Davidson was the most successful with 3/47 from his four overs. Varun Chakaravarthy was the most economical, taking 2/17 in 4 overs. Sunny Sandhu returned 1/16 in 3 overs, while Gurjapneet Singh took 1/27 and Sai Kishore 1/29, each in four overs.

The result rewarded a balanced Tamil Nadu effort: a solid batting platform with a finishing burst from Shahrukh and Rajkumar, followed by disciplined bowling that kept Railways just out of reach despite Toufik's late assault.