MUMBAI: Teenaged cricketer Mohit Alva, who smashed a match-winning 49 off 26 balls to script India’s incredible win in the Under-19 Asia Cup final against Pakistan at Muscat in Oman on Saturday, has been added to Saurashtra’s SMAT squad.“It was a gritty, magical knock. We have added Mohit to our SMAT squad. He is a very talented cricketer who belongs to a humble family from Rajkot,” Saurashtra Cricket Association president Jaydev Shah told TOI.When Alva walked in to bat at the No. 10 slot, India, tottering at 252 for eight while chasing 338, appeared down and out of the contest. Batting at a strike rate of over 188, Mohit stitched together two crucial partnerships — 57 off 35 balls for the ninth wicket with No. 7 batter Manal Chauhan and 30 off 16 balls with last man Chigupati Venkata. With three needed off the last ball, the 18-year-old Mohit struck a four over the extra-cover region to seal a famous triumph for the India Under-19 team.Earlier in the day, the fast bowler wasn’t as successful with the ball, conceding 0 for 57 in eight overs.Mohit will be available for Saurashtra’s next match against Haryana on Nov 16. On Saturday, Jaydev Unadkat-captained Saurashtra beat Vaibhav Sooryavanshi-led Bihar by five wickets in their opening match of Group B.
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