Baroda vs Mumbai: Ajinkya Rahane’s 98 Powers Mumbai to SMAT Final, Falls Agonizingly Short of Century

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Ajinkya Rahane, one of India’s most experienced batters, fell heartbreakingly short of a century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) semifinal against Baroda. Opening the innings for Mumbai, Rahane played a brilliant knock, scoring 98 runs off just 56 balls. His innings included 11 boundaries and five sixes.

The turning point came in the 17th over when Mumbai needed just one run to seal the win. Rahane, trying to complete his century with a big shot, mistimed a lofted drive off Abhimanyusingh Rajput’s bowling. Baroda’s wicketkeeper, Vishnu Solanki, caught the ball, leaving Rahane stranded two runs short of his ton.

Mumbai Enters SMAT Final

Despite Rahane’s dismissal, his effort laid the foundation for Mumbai’s comfortable six-wicket win. Chasing Baroda’s target of 158, Mumbai dominated the game even after losing Prithvi Shaw early. Rahane’s aggressive start and contributions from the middle order ensured the team crossed the finish line in just 18 overs.

Earlier in the match, Baroda put up a decent score, thanks to contributions from Krunal Pandya, Shivalik Sharma, and Atit Sheth. However, their total was not enough to stop Mumbai’s strong batting lineup. With this win, Mumbai advanced to the final of the tournament, keeping their title hopes alive.

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