New Delhi: In a thrilling display of batting prowess, Ajinkya Rahane scored a breathtaking 56-ball 98, leading Mumbai to a dominant victory over Baroda in the semi-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) held in Bengaluru. Mumbai successfully chased down Baroda’s target of 159 with 16 balls to spare, securing their place in the final.
Rahane’s Explosive Performance
Rahane’s extraordinary innings featured 11 fours and 5 sixes, showcasing his ability to dominate the Baroda bowlers. His strike rate of 175—coupled with a brilliant start where he struck 4, 6, and 4 off Lukman Meriwala—set the tone for the chase. Throughout his innings, Rahane exhibited remarkable class, effectively dealing with the short-ball tactics deployed by Baroda, which ultimately backfired.
Supporting Act from Mumbai Bowlers
The victory was a team effort, with Mumbai’s bowlers playing a crucial role in restricting Baroda to 158 for 7. Key contributions came from Shivalik Sharma, who scored a resilient 36 not out, and Shashwat Rawat, who added 33 runs. However, Baroda struggled to build partnerships, losing wickets at regular intervals and finding themselves reduced to 89 for 5 by the 14th over.
Mumbai’s Chase
Alongside Rahane, Shreyas Iyer provided solid support with a quick-fire 46 off 30 balls, forming an 88-run partnership with Rahane that placed the chase well beyond Baroda’s reach. Despite a valiant effort from Baroda bowlers, Rahane continued to dominate until he fell just short of a century, out in the penultimate ball of the 17th over. Suryakumar Yadav joined Rahane at the crease but was dismissed soon after. However, Suryansh Shedge came in and finished off the chase with a six, sealing the deal for Mumbai.
Tournament Highlights
Rahane’s performance in the tournament has been exceptional, marking his fifth half-century and putting him at the top of the batting charts with a total of 366 runs across 8 matches, boasting scores of 98, 84, 95, 22, DNB (Did Not Bat), 68, 52, and 13. His incredible form led to his acquisition by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 1.5 crore at the 2025 IPL auction, after initially remaining unsold.
Conclusion
In summary, Ajinkya Rahane’s blistering innings, combined with the disciplined effort from the Mumbai bowlers, propelled the team into the SMAT final, leaving behind a strong statement of intent ahead of the championship decider.
Brief Scores:
Baroda 158/7 in 20 overs (Shivalik Sharma 36*, Shashwat Rawat 33; Suryansh Shedge 2-11, Tanush Kotian 1-16) lost to Mumbai 164/4 (Ajinkya Rahane 98, Shreyas Iyer 46) by 6 wickets.
