Shaw, Kulkarni Lead Maharashtra Triumph; UP Dominates J&K in SMAT 2025-26

Arshin Kulkarni and Prithvi Shaw delivered impressive half-centuries, leading Maharashtra to a commanding eight-wicket victory over Hyderabad in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Group B match held at Jadavpur University in Kolkata on Friday.

Hyderabad, opting to bat on a flat pitch, posted a total of 191 for eight. Maharashtra, recovering from a poor performance against Jammu and Kashmir, chased down the target in the second-to-last over.

Despite the challenging target, Kulkarni and Shaw played with intent, capitalizing on the opportunities presented to them. Together, they put on a remarkable 117-run partnership, setting a strong platform for their team with their skilled strokes.

Kulkarni remained unbeaten on 89 from 54 balls, hitting 12 fours and 2 sixes, while Shaw contributed a quick 66 off 36 deliveries, featuring 9 fours and 3 sixes. The duo accumulated 33 runs in the final two overs of the PowerPlay, totaling 68 and putting Hyderabad under significant pressure.

Upon Shaw’s dismissal by Rakshann Readdi in the 13th over, Maharashtra was firmly in control. Kulkarni furthered the cause by adding 41 runs with Rahul Tripathi, who was not out on 26, sealing the win.

Hyderabad’s bowlers struggled with consistency, and subpar fielding compounded their issues. Earlier, Hyderabad faced regular setbacks due to Maharashtra’s strategic bowling. Lower-order contributions from captain C.V. Milind (35 not out), Tanay Thyagarajan (32), and Mohammed Arfaz (23) helped push the score past 190.

In another match, Uttar Pradesh defeated Jammu and Kashmir by 109 runs, with Aryan Juyal, Prashant Veer, and Vipraj Nigam playing pivotal roles. Despite Umran Malik’s three wickets, Uttar Pradesh managed 193 for six, while Jammu and Kashmir were bowled out for 84.

Madhya Pradesh claimed a 62-run victory over Bihar, with notable performances from Venkatesh Iyer, Harsh Gawali, and Shivang Kumar. They posted a total of 174 for eight and dismissed Bihar for 112.

Scores:

Eden Gardens:
– Madhya Pradesh 174/8 in 20 overs (Venkatesh Iyer 55 not out, Harsh Gawali 50, Mohd. Izhar 4/39) defeated Bihar 112 in 19.2 overs (Bipin Saurabh 32, Shivang Kumar 3/25).

– Goa 173/6 in 20 overs (Lalit Yadav 82 not out) overcame Chandigarh 121 in 19 overs (V. Kousik 3/12, Arjun Tendulkar 3/17, Darshan Misal 3/23).

Jadavpur University ground:
– Hyderabad 191/8 in 20 overs (C.V. Milind 35 not out, Tanay Thyagarajan 32, Rahul Buddhi 31) lost to Maharashtra 192/2 in 18.4 overs (Arshin Kulkarni 89 not out, Prithvi Shaw 66).

– Uttar Pradesh 193/6 in 20 overs (Aryan Juyal 51, Prashant Veer 37 not out, Karan Sharma 32, Sameer Rizvi 30, Umran Malik 3/37) defeated Jammu and Kashmir 84/9 in 15.3 overs (Prashant Veer 3/20, Vipraj Nigam 3/25).

Published on Nov 28, 2025.