Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2019-20: Preview – November 12

Tuesday, November 12 will feature 18 matches of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2019-20, with three matches each in Group A and Group B, four each in Group C, Group D and Group E.  

Group A (at Visakhapatnam): Andhra vs Baroda, Karnataka vs Services, Goa vs Uttarakhand

Things are very tight at the top of Group A, but Karnataka and Services have a chance of breaking away from the pack when they clash on Sunday. Services have won both their matches so far, while Karnataka bounced back after their loss to Baroda by beating Andhra. Can they make their chances against Services count?

They need to, given Goa, also on eight points, have a relatively easy task against an Uttarakhand side yet to taste victory this season.

Group B (at Thiruvananthapuram): Kerala vs Manipur, Tripura vs Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan vs Vidarbha

Vidarbha have stolen a march in Group B. They have 12 points after winning their three matches so far, while Tamil Nadu, their closest challengers have lost one of their three. Their opponents on Tuesday, Rajasthan, are third on the table, and having won one and lost one, and have a chance to restore some balance to the table in the upcoming clash. However, it’s hard to see past a Vidarbha victory.

Elsewhere, Kerala will have a chance to be back amongst the top of the table when they face minnows Manipur, who have lost all their three matches. Tripura and Uttar Pradesh clash in the other match.

Group C (at Chandigarh): Arunachal Pradesh vs Railways, Chhattisgarh vs Maharashtra, Chandigarh vs Hyderabad, Himachal Pradesh vs Punjab

Chhattisgarh are the runaway leaders, with three wins in as many matches, but Maharashtra have an opportunity to catch up with them when they clash on Tuesday. Maharashtra have eight points from their three matches, having lost to Chandigarh before their victory over Arunachal Pradesh. They will be hoping to build a string of victories going forward.

Elsewhere, Railways will hope to win their second game when they clash with Arunachal Pradesh, while Hyderabad will hope for the best when they take on Chandigarh. Himachal Pradesh and Punjab will be involved in the group’s other clash.

Group D (at Mumbai): Bengal vs Haryana, Mumbai vs Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh vs Mizoram, Assam vs Meghalaya

It’s clash between the top two in Group D when Mumbai take on Puducherry. Mumbai are top of the table, having won all their three matches to accumulate 12 points. Puducherry are just two behind, after their opener against Madhya Pradesh was abandoned. They have since strung together victories over Meghalaya and Mizoram, but Mumbai will pose an altogether different level of competition.

Elsewhere, Bengal clash with Haryana, Mizoram take on Madhya Pradesh, and Assam face a test against Meghalaya.

Group E (at Surat): Delhi vs Saurashtra, Gujarat vs Nagaland, Jammu & Kashmir vs Odisha, Jharkhand vs Sikkim

Jharkhand will hope, and expect, four more points when they take on Sikkim. Jharkhand are top of the table with two wins from three – one match was abandoned – while Sikkim are propping the table after losing two of their three – with one of their matches abandoned as well.

Saurashtra and Delhi will the far more interesting clash in the group. Both teams are level on eight points, and are second and third. They have a chance to create a gap over the other.

J&K take on Odisha and Gujarat take on Nagaland in the group’s other matches.