SMAT 2025-26: Urvil Patil’s blitz powers Gujarat, Abishek-Karan helps Bengal brush past Baroda

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy’s Hyderabad leg got off to an electrifying start thanks to a blinder of an innings from Gujarat skipper Urvil Patel. The Chennai Super Kings player, who has made a habit of racking up centuries on the domestic scene, made mincemeat of Services’ bowling attack at the Gymkhana Ground.

His 174-run stand with Aarya Desai laid the foundations for Gujarat’s facile eight-wicket win in the Group C clash, which was secured in 12.3 overs. Urvil finished unbeaten on 119 (37 balls, 12×4, 10×6).

Pondicherry and Haryana then played out a nailbiter later in the day at the same venue. Akash Pugazhendi’s 23-ball 60 helped the south Indian side set a 202-run target.

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Arsh Ranga and Yashvardhan Dalal’s 110-run second-wicket stand looked to have Haryana on road to victory, before the team folded like a pack of cards. After they fell, Aman Khan cleaned up the middle order and gave Pondicherry a six-run win.

Meanwhile, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, it was ‘homecoming’ for two Team India stars. While Abhishek Sharma failed to make an impact, Punjab rode on Anmolpreet Singh’s 27-ball 43 to beat Himachal Pradesh by five wickets.

Meanwhile, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, it was ‘homecoming’ for two Team India stars in Abhishek Sharma and Mohammed Shami. Abhishek failed to make an impact even as Punjab beat Himachal Pradesh by five wickets.

Shami, who struggled to make an impact in Sunrisers Hyderabad colours in IPL 2025, could not shine in his comeback to the City of Pearls (4-0-39-1) even though Bengal went on to beat Baroda by six wickets.

Pacer Writtick Chatterjee bouncing back after conceding 23 runs in his first over proved crucial for Bengal. He changed to the pavilion end and, under the lights, gave away just 15 runs in his next three overs and scalped two wickets.

Bengal barely allowed partnerships to build and was in control of the proceedings before Bhanu Pania’s unbeaten 53 (27 balls, 3×4, 4×6) helped Baroda set a competitive 182-run target.

Porel’s three off-side sixes blunted Baroda’s hopes of a win.
| Photo Credit:
K.V.S. Giri

Abishek Porel and Karal Lal’s 82-run stand took the sting out of Baroda’s attack early in the chase. The former made merry on the off side (with three sixes), and the latter lit up the wagon wheel on the leg side (1×4, 4×6).

Shahbaz Ahmed and Sudip Kumar Gharmi (66-run stand from 39 balls) then wrapped up the match in the 18th over, much to the delight of a handful of fans who trickled in midway through the contest.

Published on Nov 26, 2025