SMAT 2026-27: Tamil Nadu wins a thriller against Railways, Mayank thrills as Delhi thumps J&K

A 69-run seventh-wicket stand off just 31 balls between Toufik Mondal and Zuber Ali had brought Railways close to victory, but Gurjapneet Singh held his nerve to defend 11 from the final over.

Updated : Nov 14, 2026 21:41 IST , INDORE - 4 MINS READ

File photo: Gurjapneet Singh (centre) defended 11 from the final over for Tamil Nadu. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Shahrukh Khan (46 n.o., 30b, 5x4, 2x6) rediscovered his characteristic finishing touch to help Tamil Nadu fashion a six-run victory over Railways in a Group-B Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy encounter at the Daly College ground here on Saturday.

Having been sent in, Tamil Nadu posted 172 for seven, recovering from a mid-innings wobble through a late assault by Shahrukh and R. Rajkumar (31, 13b, 1x4, 3x6), the duo adding 55 runs in 33 balls for the fifth wicket.

Opener Amith Sathvik set the tone with an enterprising 38 off 28 balls, striking seven fours. He added 65 runs with B. Sachin (33, 34b, 3x4, 1x6) for the second wicket.

But Railways fought back, with leg-spinner Pradhyumn Parikh (two for 29) leading a disciplined bowling effort. At 83 for three in 11.3 overs, Tamil Nadu needed a pick-me-up. Shahrukh obliged. He cut and lofted inside-out for fours against spin, and pulled a short ball from pacer Atal Bihari Rai over deep square leg for six. Facing the same bowler in the final over, he sat deep inside the crease to launch another six over cow corner before dispatching a full toss to deep midwicket for four.

Rajkumar, as is typical of him, took the spinners downtown, smoking a straight six each off Pradhyumn and left-arm spinner Mohammad Saif.

Railways stumbled early in the chase. Slinger Athisayaraj Davidson (three for 47), returning to Tamil Nadu’s T20 fold after eight years, made an immediate impression, removing both openers in his first over.

Railways slipped to 54 for four in the PowerPlay before Varun Chakaravarthy, at his frugal best (two for 17), struck twice in successive deliveries to leave it reeling at 69 for six. He bowled Mohammad Saif and had Kritagya Singh edging one to Shahrukh at slip.

Toufik Mondal (57, 22b, 5x4, 5x6) and Zuber Ali (46, 37b, 6x4, 1x6), however, revived the contest with a 69-run seventh-wicket stand off just 31 balls. Athisayaraj returned to break the partnership before Gurjapneet Singh held his nerve to defend 11 runs in the final over.

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Earlier, opener Vihaan Malhotra’s 50-ball 86 (8x4, 5x6) set up Punjab’s four-wicket win over Haryana. Chasing 191, Punjab needed 57 off 30 balls when Uday Saharan smashed four sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 42 off 18 (2x4, 4x6) to seal the victory with five balls to spare.

However, Group-B’s standout performance came in the last match of the day. Playing domestic cricket for Delhi for the first time since 2023, Mayank Yadav marked his return with a terrific three-over spell of five for 14 as Delhi thrashed Jammu & Kashmir by 103 runs at the Holkar Stadium.

Opener Priyansh Arya’s 29-ball 58 (5x4, 4x6) and Himmat Singh’s unbeaten 26-ball 63 (6x4, 5x6) propelled Delhi to 243 for six before Jammu & Kashmir folded for 140.

The scores:

Haryana 190/6 in 20 overs (Dinesh Bana 42, Rahul Tewatia 35 n.o.) lost to Punjab 193/6 in 19.1 overs (Vihaan Malhotra 86, Uday Saharan 42 n.o., Sumit Kumar 3/55); Toss: Punjab; Points: Punjab 4, Haryana 0.

Bihar 137/9 in 20 overs (Prithvi Raj 38, Chetan Sakariya 3/33, Prerak Mankad 3/20) lost to Saurashtra 138/5 in 16.3 overs (Harvansh Pangalia 33, Suraj Kashyap 3/39).  

Tamil Nadu 172/7 in 20 overs (Amith Sathvik 38, B. Sachin 33, Shahrukh Khan 46 n.o., R. Rajkumar 31) bt Railways 166/9 in 20 overs (Zuber Ali 46, Toufik Mondal 57, Athisayaraj Davidson 3/47).

Delhi 243/6 in 20 overs (Priyansh Arya 58, Ayush Badoni 37, Tejasvi Dahiya 46, Himmat Singh 63 n.o.) lost to Jammu & Kashmir 140 in 19.1 overs (Yawer Hassan 70, Mayank Yadav 5/14).

Published on Nov 14, 2026

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