Kolkata: Jammu & Kashmir started their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 campaign with an impressive five-wicket win over Maharashtra at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Maharashtra’s star-studded batting lineup collapsed under disciplined bowling, handing J&K a confidence-boosting victory with eight balls remaining.
Maharashtra’s batting collapses despite promising start
Maharashtra captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, recently recalled to India’s ODI squad for the South Africa series, endured a disappointing outing as he fell cheaply. Opener Prithvi Shaw also departed for just five, with pacer Auqib Nabi striking early to set the tone for J&K.
A brief cameo from Arshin Kulkarni (20 off 13, 3 fours, 1 six) offered temporary momentum before Abid Mushtaq removed him. Maharashtra’s middle order crumbled soon after, with Rahul Tripathi, Gaikwad, and Azim Kazi all dismissed inside nine overs, leaving the score at 55/5.
Nikhil Naik (19 off 25) and Vicky Ostwal (21 off 25) attempted to stabilise but struggled to increase the scoring rate. Maharashtra were eventually bowled out for 130 in 19.5 overs.
Nabi led the attack brilliantly with 3/28, while Yudhvir Singh, Abid Mushtaq and Umran Malik chipped in with two wickets each.
Steady chase guides J&K to winning start
Chasing 131, Jammu & Kashmir adopted a cautious approach in the powerplay, putting together a steady 48-run stand from 43 deliveries. Opener Qamran Iqbal top-scored early with 28 (27 balls), but once he fell, wickets at regular intervals slowed the chase.
Skipper Shubham Khajuria (26 off 26) and Vivrant Sharma (11 off 11) also got starts but couldn’t convert, while Musaif Aziz struggled for fluency before departing for five off 12.
J&K looked briefly in trouble when Abdul Samad was dismissed after a brisk 20 off 16, but the lower middle order lifted the team home. Kanhaiya Wadhawan (19 off 11, 3 fours) and Abid Mushtaq (18 off 9, 1 six, 2 fours) produced vital cameos to complete the chase in 18.4 overs.
The victory marks a strong start for J&K, with their bowlers dominating a seasoned Maharashtra side and the lower order holding nerve in a tricky chase. For Maharashtra, concerns remain around top-order form and strike rotation—issues they will need to address quickly in the tournament.
