Tension, Thrills, and T20 Upsets: Sanju Samson Leads Kerala to Victory

SMAT 2025: Tension, Thrills, and T20 Upsets: Sanju Samson Leads Kerala to Victory

The Morning session delivered high drama and a major upset. The biggest story was Kerala defending their total successfully to defeat the strong Mumbai team by 15 runs. The tension peaked in the Saurashtra vs Rajasthan game, which was decided on the very last ball, with Rajasthan winning by just 2 wickets.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad and Haryana both secured comfortable chase victories, wrapping up their games early with strong batting displays against J&K and Himachal Pradesh, respectively.

SMAT 2025

1. Sanju Samson's Kerala Stuns Mumbai

Kerala beat Mumbai by 15 runs.

Kerala, led by captain Sanju Samson, who scored a quick 46, set a challenging target of 179 runs. Facing the powerhouse Mumbai side, Kerala’s bowlers delivered a brilliant and disciplined performance, successfully restricting Mumbai in the chase. Their excellent defensive bowling sealed a strong and surprising victory by 15 runs.

2. Rajasthan Wins Last-Ball Thriller

Rajasthan beat Saurashtra by 2 wickets (with 1 ball remaining).

This was the closest match of the day! Saurashtra was bowled out for a modest score, but their bowlers fought hard, making the chase extremely difficult. Rajasthan's lower-order batsmen needed all their nerve to get the final runs, clinching a dramatic, last-gasp victory with only one ball left in the game.

3. Comfortable Chase for Hyderabad

Hyderabad beat Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) by 4 wickets (with 29 balls remaining).

J&K set a target that was never quite challenging enough. Hyderabad's top and middle order batted aggressively and smartly, making the chase look comfortable. They secured the victory with ease, crossing the required total with nearly five overs to spare.

4. Haryana Cruises to Victory

Haryana beat Himachal Pradesh by 7 wickets (with 12 balls remaining).

Himachal Pradesh struggled to set a difficult target. Haryana's batsmen dominated the chase from the start, ensuring there was never any pressure. They successfully ran down the total with great comfort, winning by 7 wickets with two overs remaining.