SMAT 2025-26 | Hyderabad ekes out a win over Uttar Pradesh; Suryavanshis blistering ton goes in vain

Rakshann Readi and Tanay Thyagarajann’s three-wicket hauls, and Tanmay Agarwal’s fine 43 (26b, 4×4, 3×6) proved crucial as Hyderabad survived a scare to beat Uttar Pradesh by three wickets and record its third win in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday.

Electing to field, Hyderabad, boosted by pacer Mohammed Siraj’s availability, wrapped up the Uttar Pradesh innings for 127. The C.V. Milind-led side stuttered before managing to cross the line with 17 balls to spare.

Chasing a modest target, Hyderabad was off to an ideal start as opener Aman Rao executed his clean hitting, plundering two fours and a six against left-arm pacer Sunil Kumar in the second over, which produced 16 runs.

After Aman miscued a slower one in Shivam Mavi’s first over, Tanmay exhibited his superb shots. The left-hander confidently pulled for a four and two sixes and hoisted another maximum over long-off off Mavi’s second over.

Hyderabad was comfortably placed at 62 for two in the PowerPlay before the deceptive Vipraj Nigam and left-arm spinner Prashant Veer picked up five wickets between them to put Hyderabad under pressure.

Lower-order batters Arfaz Khan (13 n.o., 11b) and Nitin Yadav (10 n.o., 12b) formed an unbroken 22-run stand to take Hyderabad to victory.

Earlier, Hyderabad bowlers kept a tight leash on the Uttar Pradesh batters. Left-arm spinner Tanay varied his line to fox three important batters. Pacer Rakshann took three wickets, while Milind showed discipline to scalp two. Madhav Kaushik (37, 31b, 4×4, 1×6) was the best among the Uttar Pradesh batters.

Skipper Prithvi Shaw led from the front with a fine half-century (66, 30b, 11×4, 1×6) as Maharashtra posted a three-wicket win over Bihar despite teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s breathtaking unbeaten hundred (108 n.o., 61b, 7×4, 7×6). The 14-year-old achieved a personal milestone by becoming the youngest centurion in the tournament.

Yawer Hassan’s fifty (57, 36b, 4×4, 4×6) helped Jammu & Kashmir beat Chandigarh by 29 runs and secure its third victory.

Half-centuries by Suyash Prabhudesai (75 n.o., 50b, 6×4, 3×6) and Abhinav Tejrana (55, 33b, 3×4, 4×6) earned Goa a convincing seven-wicket win over Madhya Pradesh.