Mumbai's remarkable chase against Vidarbha in the quarter-finals of the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) has etched their name in T20 cricket history. Led by Shreyas Iyer, Mumbai not only secured a thrilling six-wicket victory but also set a new benchmark for the highest-ever successful chase in a Men’s T20 knockout game. This triumph marked their second consecutive win in the tournament, propelling them into the semi-finals, where they will face Baroda on December 13 in Bengaluru.
Vidarbha posted a formidable total of 221/6, powered by key contributions from Atharva Taide (66), Apoorva Wankhade (51), and Shubham Dubey (43). Despite the challenging target, Mumbai’s batting lineup, led by the ever-reliable Ajinkya Rahane, chased down the total with poise and precision. Rahane’s scintillating 84 off 45 balls, which included 10 boundaries and three sixes, anchored Mumbai’s pursuit.
Mumbai’s chase began explosively with Prithvi Shaw, who hammered 49 off 26 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes, giving Mumbai a flying start. By the time Shaw was dismissed, Mumbai was well on track, having scored 83 in just seven overs. However, a brief collapse followed, with Shreyas Iyer (5) and Suryakumar Yadav (9) falling cheaply, leaving Mumbai at 118/3 in the 11th over.
It was Rahane's steady presence that steadied the ship. After his dismissal at 157/4 in the 15.1 over, Mumbai still needed 64 runs from the final five overs. Shivam Dube and Suyansh Shedge turned the game in Mumbai's favor with a stunning partnership. Dube remained unbeaten on 37 from 22 balls, while Shedge contributed a match-winning 36 off just 12 balls. Shedge’s explosive 22-run onslaught in the 17th over, which included three consecutive sixes off Mandar Mahale, sealed the win for Mumbai, who reached 224/4 in 19.2 overs.
Earlier, Vidarbha’s batting effort had set the stage for a high-scoring encounter, but Mumbai's depth and composure with the bat overshadowed them in the end. Mumbai’s record-breaking chase saw them become the first domestic team to successfully chase a target of 220 or more, surpassing the previous record of 210 runs set by Karachi Dolphins in the 2010 Faysal Bank T20 Cup semi-final.
With this stunning victory, Mumbai has now advanced to the semi-finals, where they will take on Hardik Pandya's Baroda in what promises to be an exciting clash. The match will take place on Saturday, December 13, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
