Daijiworld Media Network - Pune

Pune, Dec 18: The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), India’s premier domestic T20 competition, will witness a first-time final clash on Wednesday as Jharkhand and Haryana face off at the MCA Stadium in Pune.

Both teams have impressed throughout the tournament. Jharkhand recorded nine consecutive victories during the league stage before a late setback against Andhra in their final Super League game. Haryana, despite a few early losses, qualified as the second-placed team from Elite Group C and topped a group that included last year’s champions Mumbai to secure their maiden final berth.

The SMAT has previously seen dominant performances from sides like Tamil Nadu, the most successful team in the tournament’s history with three titles, including the inaugural edition in 2006-07. Karnataka, Gujarat, and Baroda have each won the trophy twice, while Mumbai joined the multiple-title winners list after claiming their second championship by defeating Madhya Pradesh by six wickets in last season’s final.

Wednesday’s final promises an exciting contest as both Jharkhand and Haryana look to claim their first SMAT title and etch their names in the tournament’s history.