Xtra Time Web Desk: Tamil Nadu batter Shahrukh Khan smashed a six off the final ball to help Tamil Nadu clinch a thriller against Karnataka to retain the Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy title at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Monday.
Tamil Nadu required 5 off the last ball to win the final. Karnataka’s Pratik Jain bowled a half volley on the leg stump to see it being despatched over square leg boundary to spark wild celebrations in the Tamil Nadu camp.
Chasing 152, Tamil Nadu got off to a steady start as Hari Nishanth and N Jagadeeshan put on 29 runs for the first wicket. Nishanth got himself run out in the fourth over. Sai Sudharsan and Jagadeesan kept the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace.
Karun Nair provided the much-needed breakthrough for Karnataka as he dismissed Sudharsan (9) reducing Tamil Nadu to 51/2 in the eighth over. Karnataka bowlers kept the run rate in check, resulting in Shankar (18) and Jagadeeshan (41) dismissal. The equation boiled down to Tamil Nadu needing 57 runs to win from 28 balls.
Shahrukh Khan however changed the complexion of the game as he smashed 33 runs off just 15 balls, helping Tamil Nadu win the title by four wickets.