SMAT 2025-26: Sarfaraz’s match-winning blitz in vain as Mumbai crashes out; Punjab knocks out MP

Sarfaraz Khan did a few push-ups as he brought up his second consecutive fifty, in just 15 balls, as four national selectors watched Mumbai’s final Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League fixture at the MCA Stadium on Tuesday.

Perhaps it was his way of silencing the critics who doubted his fitness, and as he flexed muscles, en route to his 22-ball-73. Sarfaraz spared none of the Rajasthan bowlers and forged a 111-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane for the second wicket to guide Mumbai to a three-wicket win.

But his efforts weren’t enough as defending champion Mumbai crashed out of the tournament due to a poor net run rate (NRR).

Having suffered a big defeat against Hyderabad in the first game of the Super League, Mumbai had to chase down Rajasthan’s 216 for 4 in 10.2 overs to better its NRR.

After Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to convert at the start, Sarfaraz took Rajasthan bowlers to the cleaners and crafted his innings with seven sixes and six fours, while Rahane (72 n.o., 41b, 7×4, 3×6) held fort at the other end. As the spectators, who had turned up in large numbers, acknowledged Sarfaraz’s efforts, he made an effort despite knowing that it wouldn’t be possible to chase down such a tall total in the specified overs. But he batted fearlessly before falling to Kookna Ajay Singh.

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Though Rahane remained unbeaten till the end, Mumbai lost four quick wickets before reaching home with 11 balls to spare. As things slowed down after Sarfaraz’s blitzkrieg, Mumbai’s hopes of improving the NRR went up in smoke.

Mumbai opted to field, hoping to make optimum use of the conditions, but things didn’t go as per plan as half-centuries by Deepak Hooda and Mukul Choudhary helped Rajasthan post a tall total, despite losing opener Ram Chouhan early. Ramnivas Golada, who started off well, missed out on a fifty by two runs before Hooda and Choudhary took charge. As nothing worked right for the Mumbai bowlers, the Rajasthan batters dominated, but in the end, their efforts proved futile as the team lost its third game on the trot in the Super League.

In a Group A fixture, Madhya Pradesh was knocked out by Punjab, which secured a two-wicket win. In a must-win game at the DY Patil Academy ground in Ambi, Venkatesh Iyer’s 43-ball-70 guided MP to 225 for 8.

Chasing a challenging total, Punjab got off to a jittery start, losing three wickets, before Harnoor Singh and Salil Arora steadied the ship. Even though Shivam Shukla struck at the fag end, Punjab needed six runs in the last over, with two wickets remaining, and the seasoned Ramandeep Singh shattered MP’s hopes with a six to wrap things up.

Published on Dec 16, 2025