[WATCH] SMAT 2025-26: Arshad Khan records best-ever figures in tournament history to flatten Chandigarh

The soon-to-be 28-year-old Arshad Khan etched his name in history by producing the best bowling figures in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy during Madhya Pradesh’s Elite Group B fixture against Chandigardh at the Jadavpur University Complex in Kolkata. Madhya Pradesh eventually won the clash by seven wickets and 36 deliveries to spare.

The previous-best record was held by T Ravi Teja of Hyderabad and Gujarat’s Arzan Nagwaswalla. Both had registered figures of 6/13 in October 2023. Prior to that, DS Punia had claimed six wickets for 14 runs in the 2015 installment.

The left-arm seamer capitalised on the movement available in the morning clash to get rid of opening batters Arjun Azad and skipper Shivam Bhambri for one and four-ball ducks, respectively. His third wicket came on the final ball of his second over in the form of wicketkeeper-batter Nikhil Thakur. Arshad returned to bowl at the death and picked up three wickets in the 19th over of the innings to record a historic outing.

None of the other Madhya Pradesh bowlers conceded runs at a rate of below six. The other two wickets of Chandigarh were taken by Kumar Kartikeya and Rahul Batham, as the Bhambri-led unit could only post 134 on the board after being put in to bat first. Manan Vohra top-scored for Chandigarh with 52 off 43.

As for the run-chase, Madhya Pradesh seemed to be in a spot of bother after losing two wickets within the first two overs. Harsh Gawli and Harpreet Singh led the charge from that point to forge together a 105-run stand in no time before the latter was dismissed only two runs short of his half-century. Gawli ended up unbeaten on 74 off 40 in an enterprising knock which comprised six fours and five sixes.