SMAT 2025-26, Group D: Himmat’s last-ball heroics get Delhi over the line against Tamil Nadu
After a run-out referral compressed the tension, baking and thickening it to a suffocating stillness, Himmat Singh (11 not out) threw everything behind his final-ball slash, sending it for a six when two were needed as Delhi edged Tamil Nadu in a pulse-racing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite Group-D second-round clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Friday.
Shahrukh Khan at sweeper leapt, stretched an arm, and got a hand to it — but only enough to tip the ball over the rope. Chasing 199, Delhi got home by six wickets — and its dugout erupted.
With three needed off two, Himmat tapped left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh towards long-off and took off instantly — a single for certain, a second born of desperation. But there was chaos in the running: Himmat had already run short on the first dash, and now the pair turned again as the fielder charged in, scooped, and fired a bullet throw to the striker’s end. The keeper gathered and whipped off the bails.
All eyes turned to the signal. The third umpire rolled through angle after angle, frame after frame — time suspended, nerves frayed. It was impossibly close. And then, finally, the verdict flashed: not out. The bowler bowled a nervy full toss outside off for the final ball.
Earlier, Yash Dhull (71, 46b, 4×4, 4×6) and Ayush Badoni (41, 23b, 5×4, 1×6) added 61 runs off 31 balls for the third-wicket stand. Dhull dialled up the pressure on left-arm spinner Sai Kishore — first slicing a wide one through extra cover for four, then raising his fifty with a six to cow corner, and repeating the shot for another six before the over closed. He wasn’t done either, depositing TN captain Varun Chakaravarthy over the same area for yet another maximum.
Badoni brought out the funky shots – scooping Gurjapneet over short fine leg and reverse-sweeping Varun to the third-man fence for a couple of fours.
For Tamil Nadu, opener Tushar Raheja led the way with a career-best 72 (41b, 7×4, 3×6), while his partner Amith Sathvik registered his maiden T20 fifty (54, 40b, 8×4, 1×6). Together, the pair added 115 runs off 72 balls.
Published on Nov 28, 2025
