Wicketkeeper-batsman Nikhil Shankar, who was roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders at the 2019 IPL auctions, smashed five sixes in one over during a T20 clash between Maharashtra and Railways at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.
Naik’s 58-ball 95, which included five sixes in the last over of Maharashtra’s innings set the base for their fourth consecutive win in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and sealed their spot in the final, where they will face Karnataka.
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After losing the openers early, Naik put on a 119-run stand with Naushad Shaikh to lay a strong platform and then went on a solo overdrive, stroking four boundaries and 8 sixes in his innings to guide Maharashtra to 177 for 5.
During the last over of the game, Naik smacked fast bowler Amit Mishra for five sixes in an over, which tilted the momentum in the favor of Maharashtra. First, he threw the kitchen sink at a full-toss ball, which was sent over the backward square leg boundary. On the second ball was gone over long off for another maximum. The next full-length delivery received the same treatment.
Frustrated Mishra changed his length and pulled it back to be a bouncer. Naik had an answer for this as well and he pulled the ball into the crowd. The fifth ball was a dot to bowler’s relief but the last one again sailed over the rope for the fifth six of this over.
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— Mushfiqur Fan (@NaaginDance) March 12, 2019
Mrunal Devdhar and Pratham Singh provided a solid start with a 68-run opening partnership for Railways but the chase fell wayward once the pair was separated in the eighth over. Divyang Himganekar, Satyajeet Bacchav and Naushad bagged a brace each, while Samad Fallah snared three to bowl Railways out for 156.
Naik has had a decent campaign in the ongoing event, having notched 193 runs in 11 matches at an average of 64.33. He has been a bit inconsistent with the bat throughout the tournament but he found his rhythm at the right time and took Maharashtra into the final.
