8:03 PM IST: A comprehensive victory for Saurashtra as they thumped Punjab by 37 runs to start their SMAT 2023 campaign on a high note.

Earlier, after being invited to bat first, Saurashtra posted a mammoth 211/4 in 20 overs. Tarang Gohel and Harvik Desai spearheaded the innings for Saurashtra, but the latter departed for just 14 runs, and he was soon followed by Samarth Vyas for a duck in the same over. Despite losing a couple of wickets in the same over, Tarang and Sheldon Jackson played aggressive cricket, scoring runs at a brisk pace. Tarang departed after scoring 51 runs, while Jackson fell 9 runs short of his half-century. Vishvaraj Jadeja and Jay Gohil took responsibility for scoring at the cue end of the innings, and the duo remained unbeaten on 50 and 42 runs, respectively, helping their side finish at 211/4. Siddarth Kaul bagged a couple of wickets for Punjab, while Harpreet Brar and Sanvir Singh celebrated one wicket.

In pursuit of a hefty target, Punjab got off to a shaky start, losing Prabhsimran Singh (4 off 9), Abhishek Sharma (5 off 3), and Naman Dhir (9 off 5) inside 4 overs. Mandeep Singh and Anmolpreet Singh started the rescue mission for Punjab; the latter scored at a rapid pace from the word go, keeping the run rate in check. The duo kept Punjab in the hunt, but unfortunately, Chirag Jani trapped Anmolpreet for 48 runs, halting the 75-run partnership between the duo. Mandeep followed his partner in the very next over, departing for 32 runs, and leaving his side in deep waters.

Following the wicket of skipper Mandeep, Punjab lost a few wickets in a jiffy, but Ramandeep Singh and Harpreet Brar played a short cameo of 32 and 22 runs, which was not enough for Punjab. Eventually, Punjab bundled out for 174 runs, falling 37 runs short of the target.

Chirag Jani shone with the ball for Saurashtra, taking three wickets. Kushang Patel chipped in with a couple of wickets, while Jaydev Unadkat, Aditya Jadeja, and Parth Bhut contributed one wicket to Punjab's downfall.