Kerala ends Mumbai’s SMAT winning streak with thrilling 15-run victory

In a dramatic Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite Group A clash, Kerala pulled off a sensational upset, defeating unbeaten Mumbai by 15 runs on Thursday.

Kerala posted a competitive total of 163/7 , anchored by skipper Sanju Samson, who scored 54 runs off 38 balls, including eight fours and a six. Rohan Prem, Sandeep Warrier, and KM Asif contributed crucial runs to help set a challenging target.

Kerala’s win over Mumbai saw KM Asif playing the starring role, the pacer picked up five wickets for 24 runs, including key scalps like Suryakumar Yadav, as Mumbai collapsed to 163 in response to Kerala’s 178 for 5. Despite a decent start by Sanju Samson (46 off 28 balls) and support from other batters for Kerala, it was the late bowling spell from Asif and tight team defence that clinched the match. Accordingly, Sharafuddeen of Kerala was awarded Man of the Match, credited for his all-round impact combined with Asif’s decisive bowling.

This victory marks Samson’s third consecutive SMAT triumph over Mumbai since 2021, reinforcing his reputation as a big-match performer. With his current form, Samson is once again under the spotlight for a potential India T20I opening berth.

Kerala’s win shakes up Elite Group A, showing that even an unbeaten Mumbai side can be toppled by strategic bowling and fearless batting.