Bengaluru: Bengal suffered a 41-run defeat to Baroda in the quarter-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 on Wednesday due to a lackluster performance by fast bowler Mohammed Shami.

Opener Shashvat Rawat was the top scorer with 40 runs in 26 balls (one four, three sixes) as Baroda posted a competitive 172 for seven. Despite a brilliant innings from Shahbaz Ahmed (55 runs in 36 balls, three fours, four sixes), Bengal were bowled out for 131.

Skipper Hardik Pandya (3-27), along with his pacers Lukman Meriwala (3-17) and Atit Sheth (3-41), played a key role in taking Baroda to the semi-finals.

Shami's performance is also in the news because the experienced fast bowler is working hard to be included in the Indian team for at least the last two Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Before this match, Shami had taken 11 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 7.8. But Wednesday was not a special day for Shami. He started with two wides in the first over and did not look in control of his bowling during the rest of his spell.

34-year-old Shami bowled at a speed of around 140 kmph in two spells and also bowled some yorkers. Shivalik Sharma (24 off 17 balls) hit two consecutive sixes. However, one six went behind third man. When Baroda was trying to score runs quickly, Shami took two consolation wickets in the form of Shivalik and Atit Sheth.

Shami came out to bat and after playing two balls, he was dismissed for zero by his Indian teammate Hardik Pandya. Then Baroda fast bowler Meriwala derailed Bengal's innings by taking three wickets in his fourth over. He dismissed in-form Karan Lal, captain Sudip Kumar Gharami and Hrithik Chatterjee. Shahbaz tried to bring Bengal's innings back on track but he did not get any support.

KKR batsman takes Madhya Pradesh to semi-final after 14 years

Meanwhile, in the second quarterfinal at Alur, Madhya Pradesh entered the last four with a stunning six-wicket win over Saurashtra, thanks to the all-round performance of Venkatesh Iyer.

Venkatesh, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, took two wickets and scored an unbeaten 38 off 33 balls as Madhya Pradesh reached Saurashtra's target of 173 for seven by reaching 174 for four with four balls to spare.