[WATCH] SMAT 2025: Nitish Kumar Reddy rattles Madhya Pradesh’s top-order with hattrick

Nitish Kumar Reddy struck thrice in consecutive deliveries to secure a hattrick for Andhra against Madhya Pradesh in the Super League Group A clash of the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy clash on December 12. MP won the clash by four wickets and 15 deliveries to spare despite Nitish’s heroics with the ball.

Nitish disturbed Harsh Gawli’s stumps as he attemped to hit a fuller deliver against the line. The left-handed Harpreet Singh got out for a golden duck after nicking behind while opposition skipper Rajat Patidar chopped the hattrick ball onto his stumps to leave Nitish and his team members ecstatic.

Nitish conceded 17 runs in three overs for Andhra. However, they were unable to defend their 112-run total at the DY Patil Academy. KV Sasikanth and Satyanarayana Raju were also amongst the wickets.

During the first innings, none of the Andhra batters were able to get going. Nitish played 27 balls for his 25 runs while wicketkeeper-batter Srikar Bharat emerged as the top-scorer for the Ricky Bhui-led unit with 39 off 31.

Shivam Shukla ended up securing the Player of the Match award for his four-wicket haul (4/23 in 4 overs). Tripuresh Singh was amongst the wickets as well. The right-arm medium pacer picked up the wickets of Ashwin Hebbar (0 off 1), Shaik Rasheed (0 off 3) and Pyla Avinash (18 off 19).

Andhra, who finished second in Group A, will next face Punjab in Pune on December 14 and Jharkhand in Ambi on December 16 to wrap up the Super League. They will aim to win both the contests and look qualify for the summit clash on the basis of a superior net run rate. However, their chances to make it to the final have become increasingly slim now.