SMAT Super League Showdown: Last-Ball Thrillers and High-Octane Knockouts
SMAT Super League Showdown: Last-Ball Thrillers and High-Octane Knockouts
The last league matches were full of pressure, big wins, and close finishes. The biggest highlight of the day was the Rajasthan vs Delhi match, which went right down to the final ball. Rajasthan pulled off a dramatic win and entered the next round.
In other games, Punjab’s batters were in top form as they smashed their way to a strong victory. Andhra Pradesh and Mumbai also chased their targets easily and secured their spots in the Super League.
The biggest surprise came when Hardik Pandya’s Baroda lost a tight match to Haryana, showing how tough the competition was as every team fought hard for qualification.
1. Rajasthan vs Delhi
Rajasthan Wins Final Over Showdown
Rajasthan won by 3 wickets (with 0 balls remaining). Delhi set a challenging target of 175 runs. The chase went down to the very last ball, where Rajasthan’s Mukul Choudhary smashed an incredible unbeaten 62 runs off just 26 balls to snatch the victory and secure his team a Super League spot. Navdeep Saini's 3 wickets for Delhi went in vain.
2. Haryana vs Baroda
Haryana Edges Hardik's Baroda
Haryana won by 9 runs. Haryana posted a modest total of 175 runs. Despite a valiant late surge, Baroda fell just nine runs short of the target (166/7). The disciplined bowling attack of Haryana, led by Anshul Kamboj, who took a match-winning 4 wickets for 23 runs, was the key difference, ensuring Haryana walked away with the crucial win.
3. Andhra Pradesh vs Kerala
Andhra Bowls Out Sanju's Kerala
Andhra Pradesh won by 7 wickets. Andhra’s bowlers were clinical, dismissing Kerala for a low total of 119 runs. The chase proved simple, anchored by a measured knock from opener Srikar Bharat (Player of the Match), as Andhra cruised past the target with several overs to spare to secure a Super League berth.
4. Mumbai vs Chandigarh
Mumbai Cruises, Mhatre Stars Again
Mumbai won by 8 wickets. Mumbai's attack, featuring Shardul Thakur (3 wickets), restricted Chandigarh to a manageable 121 runs. Opener Ayush Mhatre was the star of the chase, smashing an unbeaten 69 runs to guide Mumbai to another easy win, ensuring their march toward the next round continues.
5. Bihar vs Hyderabad
Hyderabad’s Easy Morning Chase
Hyderabad won by 7 wickets. Bihar struggled to put up a decent total, allowing Hyderabad's bowlers to dominate. Facing a small target, Hyderabad's top order efficiently knocked off the runs with power and intent, securing the victory comfortably with many balls to spare and only three wickets down.
6. Goa vs Jammu & Kashmir
Goa Takes Down J&K
Goa won by 7 wickets. J&K set a competitive target of 161 runs. Goa's batsmen held their composure in the middle overs, ensuring they kept the required run rate in check. Despite a late wobble, Goa secured the victory, successfully chasing down the target with four wickets in hand.
7. Himachal Pradesh vs Gujarat
Gujarat beat Himachal Pradesh by a thrilling 1 wicket (via DLS Method)
This match was an absolute classic that went down to the final moments. After setting a strong total, Himachal Pradesh looked set to win. However, due to rain or time delays, the target was revised for Gujarat (DLS method). Despite the pressure and the loss of wickets, Gujarat's lower order showed incredible nerve and composure. They managed to score the final runs required, clinching a nail-biting, last-gasp victory with only one wicket remaining. This was a crucial win for Gujarat under immense pressure.
8. Assam vs Odisha
Odisha's Total is Too High For Assam
Odisha won by 73 runs. Odisha's batsmen put up a substantial total of 171 runs. Assam struggled badly in their chase, unable to cope with the required rate and the disciplined bowling attack of Odisha. The result was a huge victory for Odisha by 73 runs, boosting their own standing in the group.
9. Tamil Nadu vs Saurashtra
Saurashtra Wins Ultimate Thriller by 1 Run
This was arguably the most exciting match of the day! Batting first, Saurashtra posted a competitive 178/8, thanks to key contributions from Vishvaraj Jadeja (40) and Siddhant Rana (42). In reply, Devdutt Padikkal anchored the Karnataka chase with a superb 66 runs off 46 balls, keeping them in the hunt until the end. Karnataka needed 14 runs in the final over. Pacer Ankur Panwar held his nerve brilliantly, defending the total against the last pair. With 3 runs needed off the final delivery, Panwar delivered a wide yorker, and the Karnataka batsman could only manage a single, handing Saurashtra a dramatic 1-run victory.
10. Bengal vs Pondicherry
Pondicherry Humbles Bengal
Pondicherry won by 81 runs. Pondicherry batted first and scored a competitive total. Bengal's batting struggled severely in the chase, unable to build partnerships. Pondicherry's bowlers dominated, restricting Bengal to a low total and securing a massive 81-run victory.
11. Madhya Pradesh vs Chhattisgarh
Madhya Pradesh beat Chhattisgarh by a dominant 7 wickets
After restricting Chhattisgarh to a competitive score of around 165 runs, Madhya Pradesh's batsmen took charge. The team played a strong, assertive chase, with key players like Harpreet Singh Bhatia and Harsh Gawali (as noted in the day's highlights) ensuring the required run rate was never an issue. They comfortably achieved the target, losing only three wickets and securing the comprehensive 7-wicket victory.