Taide, Solanki, and Saurabh: The Stars of the Successful Defences
Taide, Solanki, and Saurabh: The Stars of the Successful Defences
SMAT 2025: Vaibhav Suryavanshi misses out for Bihar as they take on Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, whereas Mohammed Shami and Bengal lock horns against Haryana.
Today's action was defined by teams defending their totals and high-scoring individual efforts. Vishnu Solanki (74) for Baroda and Atharva Taide (66) for Vidarbha led their teams to victory by setting up totals that were successfully defended against Services and Andhra, respectively. Delhi also secured a defensive win against Uttarakhand.
However, the day was bookended by tense chases, featuring the best batting performances. Bipin Saurabh (62) powered Bihar to a last-minute victory over UP, while the most dramatic finish saw Chandigarh snatch an incredible win against Hyderabad on the second-to-last ball of the match.
1. Bihar Chases Down Uttar Pradesh
Bihar won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)
This was a successful chase for Bihar against a strong UP side. UP set a competitive target, but Bihar's top order, led by a strong 62-run innings from Bipin Saurabh, managed the chase expertly. They controlled the required run rate and secured the victory with four balls to spare, earning a crucial win.
2. Vidarbha Successfully Defends Against Andhra
Vidarbha won by 19 runs
Vidarbha batted first and posted a challenging total of 170/8, largely thanks to a crucial 66 runs scored by Atharva Taide. Andhra's batsmen found the target difficult to chase under pressure from Vidarbha's bowlers. Despite a determined effort, Andhra fell 19 runs short, giving Vidarbha a solid defensive victory.
3. Baroda Holds On Against Services
Baroda won by 13 runs
Baroda's batting unit, featuring a decisive 74 runs from Vishnu Solanki, set a strong target of 184 runs. Services fought hard in the chase but were unable to cross the finish line. Baroda's bowlers maintained control in the death overs, successfully defending their total to secure a close 13-run win.
4. Delhi Bowlers Secure Win Over Uttarakhand
Delhi won by 18 runs
Delhi posted a modest total of 149 runs. While the score was challenging, the Delhi bowlers delivered a fantastic performance, restricting the Uttarakhand batsmen throughout their chase. Their collective discipline and tight bowling saw them successfully defend the total, clinching the victory by 18 runs.
5. Chandigarh Wins Final-Ball Thriller
Chandigarh beat Hyderabad by 4 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)
This was the closest match of the day! Hyderabad set a competitive score, but Chandigarh kept their chase alive until the very end. After a tense final over, Chandigarh managed to get the winning runs on the second-to-last ball, securing a thrilling 4-wicket victory. Ankit Choudhary’s early bowling spell was key to restricting Hyderabad and setting up the narrow win.
6. Assam Stuns Kerala with Dominant Bowling
Assam beat Kerala by 5 wickets (with 7 balls remaining)
This was a stunning victory for Assam, set up entirely by their disciplined bowling attack. Assam's bowlers, led by Sadak Hussain, who claimed an excellent 4 wickets, completely rattled Kerala's lineup, bowling them out for a mere 101 runs. The chase was a formality for Assam; despite losing a few wickets, they cruised to the target with ease and seven balls to spare.
7. Haryana Clinches Crucial Defensive Win Over Bengal
Haryana won by 24 runs
Haryana's batsmen put up a huge target of 191 runs against the Bengal attack. Bengal's effort was highlighted by a superb bowling spell from veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who took 4 wickets for 30 runs, but the sheer size of Haryana's score proved too challenging. Bengal could only manage 167 in response, giving Haryana a decisive 24-run victory.
8. Jharkhand's Batting Power Floors Rajasthan
Jharkhand won by 36 runs
Jharkhand delivered an explosive batting masterclass, posting a massive total of 215/5 against Rajasthan. Facing an intimidating required run rate, Rajasthan's batsmen struggled to keep up with the pace. Jharkhand's bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings, bowling out Rajasthan for 179 runs and securing a comprehensive 36-run victory.