Fifties by Mayank Agarwal and Rohan Kadam help Karnataka clinch maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy

Karnataka have now remained unbeaten in their last 14 T20 games, the joint highest winning streak for an Indian T20 side along with KKR.

Mayank Agarwal scored his first half-century of the Syed Mushtaq Ali 2019 tournament and remained unbeaten on 85, while Rohan Kadam notched up yet another fifty to help Karnataka bag their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy after an eight-wicket win over Maharashtra in the final on Thursday.

Karnataka captain @im_manishpandey lifts the glittering @paytm Syed Mustaq Ali T20 Trophy and is mobbed by his teammates. This is their 14th straight T20 win. pic.twitter.com/zKo9ush9ik

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) March 14, 2019

Karnataka have now remained unbeaten in their last 14 T20 games, the joint highest winning streak for an Indian T20 side along with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The @paytm Syed Mustaq Ali T20 Trophy was missing from their cabinet but Karnataka have been unstoppable in the shortest format and are now the CHAMPIONS of the 2018-19 season. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ZNWjjjqbgT

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) March 14, 2019

Chasing 155, Karnataka lost BS Sharath in the third over after he was cleaned up by Samad Fallah for 2.

Agarwal and Kadam then took charge of the innings and forged 92 runs for the second wicket to take the game away from the opposition. Kadam, who tonked six boundaries and three sixes en route to his 60 off 39, was dismissed by DM Hinganekar in the 13^th over. However, Agarwal and Karun Nair (8* off 10) then ensured Karnataka continued to dominate the run-chase as they cruised to victory with nine balls to spare.

Most consecutive wins in Twenty20 cricket:

25 – Sialkot Stallions, 2006-2010
14 – Otago, 2012-2013
14 – Kolkata Knight Riders, 2014
14* – KARNATAKA, 2018-2019

Manish Pandey was part of KKR's streak and captained Karnataka in previous 12 games. #SyedMushtaqAliTrophy #MAHvKAR

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 14, 2019

Agarwal was unbeaten on 85 – his 57-ball knock laced with six boundaries and three towering sixes.

Rohan Kadam of Karnataka in Syed Mushtaq Ali 2018/19:

12 innings
536 runs
53.6 Avg
129.78 S/R
5 fifties

He is the first player to score 500 runs in a single edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. #SyedMushtaqAliTrophy #MAHvKAR

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 14, 2019

Earlier, after opting to field, Abhimanyu Mithun pocketed two wickets, while KC Cariappa and Jagadeesha Suchith added one each as Karnataka restricted Maharashtra to 155/4.

Maharashtra lost found themselves in a spot of bother at 55/3 inside the first 10 overs. Captain Rahul Tripathi (30 off 32) was dismissed by Cariappa just about when he was shifting gears.

Ankit Bawne and Naushad Shaikh then stitched an 81-run partnership, but Karnataka struck just in time with Mithun getting rid of Bawne for 29 in the 18^th over.

Naushad struck some lusty blows in the end to help himself to 69 off 41 which included five boundaries and three sixes, but it didn’t prove sufficient with none of the others firing from the other end.

Mithun returned with figures of two for 24 in his four overs.

Brief scores: Karnataka 159/2 in 18.3 overs (Mayank Agarwal 85*, Rohan Kadam 60) beat Maharashtra 155/4 (Naushad Shaikh 69*, Ankit Bawne 29; Abhimanyu Mithun 2/24) by eight wickets