Mumbai showed his dominance in domestic cricket again by winning the third title of the 2024-25 domestic season as they lifted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25. Overall this is Mumbai’s 63rd domestic title, which makes them the most decorated team in the domestic circuit of India.
In the 17th edition of SMAT, Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh were up against each other in Bengaluru. Mumbai skipper Shreyas Iyer decided to bowl first after winning the toss. Having been Invited to bat first, Madhya Pradesh posted a challenging 174/8 on the scoreboard, thanks to their skipper Rajat Patidar’s quick 81* off 40 balls. Shardul Thakur and Royston Dias both clinched two wickets each for Mumbai.
𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙈𝙋𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎!
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 15, 2024
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 winners 👉 Mumbai 🙌
Scorecard – https://t.co/4J8WAjUsK9#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @MumbaiCricAssoc pic.twitter.com/E8OrhUAwSf
Came to chase a challenging target of 175 runs, Suryakumar and Ajinkya Rahane (who became the player of the series with the most runs in the tournament) laid the foundation for the chase for Mumbai. They took some time to add 52 for the third wicket, but it helped Mumbai recover when they were 47 for 2 in the fifth over. When Rahane hit a leading edge off the final ball of the powerplay that traveled to mid-off, Rajat Patidar ducked to his left, but the ball escaped his grip.
Rahane and Suryakumar progressed gradually, but when another 110 runs were required from 69 balls, Suryakumar accelerated. He scooped and lofted Rahul Batham for four and six respectively. Rahane started the next over by reverse sweeping and drawing Kumar Kartikeya for four runs. In the 12th over, Venkatesh dismissed Rahane for 37, but Suryakumar continued his job by hitting Batham for two sixes.
Mumbai are CHAMPIONS of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 🥳
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 15, 2024
Atharva Ankolekar with the winning runs 🙌
Mumbai register a 5-wicket win over Madhya Pradesh 👏👏
Scorecard – https://t.co/4J8WAjUsK9#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @MumbaiCricAssoc pic.twitter.com/UGzz4cosbQ
Rahane and Suryakumar progressed gradually, but when 110 runs were needed from 69 balls, Suryakumar accelerated. He scooped and lofted Rahul Batham to four and six. Rahane began the next over by reverse sweeping and pulling Kumar Kartikeya for four. Venkatesh dismissed Rahane for 37 in the 12th over, but Suryakumar hit Batham for two sixes in the 13th.
But sooner caught Suryakumar Yadav was caught by Shivam Shukla on the short fine leg for 48. After that, Shedge and Ankolekar joined hands; at this moment, Mumbai needed 46 from 32 balls, and the game might have gone either way. However, the two ensured that the trophy came to Mumbai.
Shedge scored an undefeated 36 off 15 balls and shared an unbroken stand of 51 off 19 deliveries with Atharva Ankolekar, who hit the winning six.
Suryansh Shedge was chosen player of the match for his all-round game as he ended the game with batting & bowling figures of 36* (15) & 1/32. Ajinkya Rahane was named player of the series with 469 runs under his belt.
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