Mumbai's Batting Powerhouse Continues Dominant Run
In-form batsman Ayush Mhatre delivered another spectacular performance, scoring his second successive century to guide defending champions Mumbai to their third consecutive victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Elite Group A encounter at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium on Sunday night saw Mumbai outclass Andhra Pradesh by a comprehensive nine-wicket margin.
Mhatre's Magnificent Knock
The young batting sensation, who had previously scored a century against Vidarbha, remained unbeaten on 104 runs from just 59 deliveries, smashing five boundaries and nine massive sixes. His explosive innings enabled Mumbai to chase down the 160-run target in merely 15.2 overs, showcasing the team's batting firepower.
Mhatre's recent achievements have been remarkable. Just two days earlier, he became the youngest player to score centuries across all three domestic formats, and this innings added another significant milestone to his growing reputation.
Andhra's Innings Breakdown
After being put in to bat first, Andhra Pradesh managed to post 159/7 in their 20 overs. The innings was built around contributions from skipper Ricky Bhui (48 off 40 balls), KS Bharat (30 off 25), and SD Prasad, who remained not out on 44 from 32 deliveries.
Mumbai's bowling attack was led effectively by T Deshpande, who claimed 3 wickets for 25 runs, while S Patil supported well with 2/24. Despite Andhra's respectable total, the required run rate of eight per over never posed a serious challenge to Mumbai's formidable batting lineup.
Chase Masterclass
Mumbai's pursuit began strongly with opener Ajinkya Rahane providing early momentum, scoring 18 runs from just 12 balls including two sixes. His contribution helped establish a solid foundation of 57 runs during the Powerplay overs.
After Rahane's dismissal, Mhatre partnered with Suryakumar Yadav to dismantle the Andhra bowling attack. Mhatre attacked freely, finding boundaries at will, while Yadav provided excellent support, remaining unbeaten on 31 from 21 balls with one four and two sixes.
The innings served as valuable batting practice for Yadav ahead of the upcoming T20I series against South Africa, giving him much-needed time in the middle.
Tournament Implications
With this convincing victory, Mumbai now leads the points table with 12 points and has four matches remaining to secure a top-two finish and qualify for the knockout stages. The tournament's final rounds are scheduled to be played in Indore from December 12.
The dew factor that set in during the evening innings certainly played to Mumbai's advantage, making conditions easier for batting as the match progressed.
Other Group A Results
In other matches played at Ekana Stadium, Odisha dominated Vidarbha with an eight-wicket victory, Kerala secured an eight-wicket win against Chhattisgarh, and Railways emerged victorious over Assam by three wickets.
Brief Scores: Andhra Pradesh: 159/7 in 20 overs (S Prasad 44*, R Bhui 48, KS Bharat 30; T Deshpande 3/25, S Patil 2/24). Mumbai: 162/1 in 15.2 overs (A Mhatre 104*, S Yadav 31*).
