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Xtra Time Web Desk: Shahbaz Ahmed’s scintillating unbeaten century overshadowed Mohammed Shami’s much-awaited white-ball return as Bengal defeated defending champions Punjab by four wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy opener at Niranjan Shah Stadium on Saturday.

Shahbaz, who wasn’t retained by RCB for IPL 2025, might have just skyrocketed his stock with this incredible performance. The left-hander smashed a counter-attacking 100* off just 49 deliveries, rescuing Bengal from a precarious 10/4 in four overs to chase down Punjab’s challenging 180 with an over to spare.

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Shahbaz began his onslaught by taking on Abhishek Sharma, who earlier picked up three wickets, and later dismantled Gurnoor Brar’s bowling. Partnering with captain Sudip Gharami (43 off 31), Shahbaz added a vital 110-run fifth-wicket stand. Even after Gharami’s dismissal, Shahbaz kept finding boundaries, sealing the win and boosting his IPL price tag for the upcoming auctions.

On the other hand, Mohammed Shami, returning to competitive white-ball cricket, struggled with figures of 1/46 in his four overs, conceding runs at an economy of 11.50. While his performance might not raise alarms regarding his red-ball form, selectors will likely focus on his fitness and rhythm for a potential return in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy’s third Test.

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Punjab began strongly with Abhishek Sharma smashing Shami for two early sixes, but his quick 18 off 8 was cut short by Kanishk Seth. Prabhsimran Singh and Anmolpreet Singh capitalized on the PowerPlay, adding 57 runs. However, Bengal’s spinners turned the tide as Shahbaz removed Prabhsimran, and a run-out ended Anmolpreet’s promising knock. Wickets tumbled, and despite Nehal Wadhera’s 28 and Arshdeep Singh’s late sixes, Punjab settled for 179.

This thrilling encounter marked Shahbaz’s rise as a dependable finisher and Bengal’s assertion as a strong contender this season.