Ajinkya Rahane batting for Mumbai. (BCCI)Mumbai recorded the highest chase in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to beat Andhra and qualify for the knockouts in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Overhauling a record high 230-run target on the back of Ajinkya Rahane’s 95 by four wickets, Mumbai pipped Andhra for the top spot in Group E and made the knockouts. The win effectively knocked out Kerala who could have secured qualification with an Andhra win.
Batting first, Andhra piled on a massive 229/4 total on the back of fifties from KS Bharat, Ashwin Hebbar and captain Ricky Bhui. Opening the batting, Bharat registered his highest T20 score as he remained unbeaten on 93 off 53 deliveries with eight fours and four maximums.
SMAT 2024: Knockout Schedule, qualified teams list
Victory for Mumbai 👏
What. A. Chase 🔥
With 30 needed off 12, Suryansh Shedge (30* off 8) smashed 6⃣,6⃣,6⃣,4⃣,4⃣ to win it in some style for Mumbai 💪💪
Ajinkya Rahane smashed 95(54) to lead Mumbai's charge 👌#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/sH7kOQEvqo pic.twitter.com/QXNmhYmN9A
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 5, 2024
In reply, Mumbai got off to a rollicking start with Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane plundering boundaries in the Powerplay. While Shaw fell on 34, Rahane maintained the tempo as Mumbai crossed 80 within the powerplay. Though Mumbai lost a flurry of wickets towards the end, Suryansh Shedge closed the chase for Mumbai with an unbeaten 7-ball 26 cameo.
Mumbai broke the previous high of a 227-run chase by Pondicherry against Andhra in 2021. Baroda is the only other side to chase down a 220-plus target, achieving the feat during a 222-run chase against Tamil Nadu in Indore last week.
Mumbai will now take on Vidarbha in the fourth quarterfinal at Alur Cricket Stadium in Alur on December 11. Meanwhile, Andhra will face Uttar Pradesh in the second pre-quarterfinal on Monday.
Highest successful T20 run-chases in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Target: 230 – by Mumbai v Andhra, 2024*
Target: 227 – by Pondicherry v Andhra, 2021
Target: 222 – by Baroda v Tamil Nadu, 2024
Target: 213 – by Kerala v Delhi, 2021
Target: 213 – by Vidarbha v Bengal, 2023
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