SMAT 2025-26: Day 2 Update - Kulkarni & Shaw Power Maharashtra Chase

SMAT 2025-26: Day 2 Update - Kulkarni & Shaw Power Maharashtra Chase

The second day of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 saw some exciting Elite Group matches across India. The morning games started with high energy, and in the first match, Maharashtra’s strong top-order batting made a successful chase look easy.

1. Maharashtra Defeats Hyderabad by 8 Wickets

Maharashtra made light work of a tough chase, thanks to the batting brilliance of Prithvi Shaw and Arshin Kulkarni. Hyderabad had posted a competitive 191/8, with middle-order contributions from Chama Milind (35) and Tanay Thyagarajan (32). For Maharashtra, Jalaj Saxena was the standout bowler, taking 2/25.

In reply, Captain Shaw blasted 66 runs off 36 balls, giving his team a flying start. Kulkarni held the innings together with a superb unbeaten 89 off 54 balls, guiding Maharashtra to victory with eight wickets in hand and eight balls left.

2. Railways Defeats Kerala by 33 Runs

Railways pulled off a brilliant win by defending a small total of 149 runs. After a shaky start, Navneet Virk scored a helpful 32 runs, giving Railways a fighting chance.

Kerala, with big names like captain Sanju Samson (19), struggled during the chase. Their batters couldn’t build any strong partnerships none went over 30 runs.

Railways’ bowlers worked together as a unit, with Atal Bihari Rai leading the way by taking 3 wickets. Kerala were held to just 117/8, and Railways won the match by 33 runs.

3. Rajasthan Defeats Tripura by 5 Wickets

Rajasthan showed great skill in chasing down Tripura’s total of 169/6. They kept up a good scoring rate throughout the innings and reached the target of 170 runs with 5 wickets left and 7 balls to spare. It was a confident and comfortable win to kick off their day in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26.

4. Haryana Wins Super Over Against Punjab

This was easily the most exciting match of the day. Haryana put up a huge total of 207/9, thanks to explosive half-centuries from Nishant Sindhu (61 off 32) and captain Ankit Kumar (51 off 26).

Punjab fought back hard in the chase, with Anmolpreet Singh smashing a brilliant 81 off just 37 balls.

He nearly pulled off a stunning win, but the match ended in a tie after the final delivery.

In the Super Over, Haryana’s bowlers kept their cool and defended the target well, sealing a thrilling win and grabbing all four points.
 

5. Delhi Defeats Tamil Nadu by 6 Wickets

In the highest-scoring match of the afternoon, Delhi managed to chase down a tough target of 199 runs. Tamil Nadu had set a strong score of 198/7. However, Delhi responded well, with the whole team batting effectively to keep up with the required run rate.

Yash Dhull was named Player of the Match for his crucial role in the chase, leading Delhi to a thrilling 6-wicket victory on the last ball.

6. Andhra Defeats Odisha by 66 Runs

Andhra Pradesh achieved a strong win by setting a tough target of 185 runs and then destroying the Odisha batting lineup.

Odisha was all out for only 118 runs, leading to a heavy 66-run loss. Saurabh Kumar was named Player of the Match for his impressive all-around performance.

7. Puducherry Defeats Baroda by 17 Runs

Puducherry managed to defend their score of 166/9 in a close match. Baroda fell short in their chase, getting bowled out for 149 in the second-to-last over.

Aman Hakim Khan played a crucial role for Puducherry, helping them win by 17 runs.

8. Madhya Pradesh Dominates Bihar to Clinch 62-Run Victory

Madhya Pradesh achieved a strong win over Bihar by 62 runs, turning around the result from their last match against them. Their victory was built on solid batting and effective spin and pace bowling, which dismantled the Bihar chase.