The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has been the stage for some amazing batting displays, where teams managed to pull off great chases against huge targets. Fearless T20 batting with daring stroke-play has become the hallmark of domestic teams throughout seasons.
The tournament has offered moments like dramatic last-ball finishes and marvelous big-hitting classes among the NABL teams and the lesser-known ones. It has, however, been the chase of some of the previous tournament’s amazing totals that have showcased the very intensity of the competition and India’s batting depth that is on the rise.
The top five highest run-chases in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be highlighted in this article.
- Mumbai’s 222 vs. Vidarbha, Alur (2024)
At number five is the elegant chase of 222 runs by Mumbai in the SMAT 2024 quarterfinal against Vidarbha at Alur. Captain Ajinkya Rahane’s stylish 84 in 45 and Prithvi Shaw’s quick 49 in 26 provided the ideal foundation, and then, Suryansh Shegde’s explosive unbeaten 12-ball 36 finished the task with four balls left.
- Baroda’s 222 vs. Tamil Nadu, Indore (2024)
The chase of 222 by Baroda against Tamil Nadu in the group stage of SMAT 2024 sees the team sharing the fifth position, with the audience in Indore being mesmerized by the powerful Hardik Pandya blitz. Coming in at No. 6 with more than a hundred runs needed off 44 balls, Pandya hit a phenomenal 69 off just 30 balls, bringing the Holkar Stadium to life. His explosive batting changed a steady start by the top order into one of the greatest successful chases in the tournament.
- 223 by Baroda vs Punjab, Hyderabad (2025)
Baroda’s 223-run chase against Punjab in the 2025 SMAT group stage coming in fourth in the list was another Hardik Pandya six-hitting exhibition in Hyderabad. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 50 off 19 was the main attraction of the Punjab innings, but Pandya, with his steady hand, scored 77 not out off 42 balls. Well-directed batting led Baroda to overtake the target and claim the fourth-highest successful chase in tourney history.
- 227 by Puducherry vs Andhra, Mumbai (2021)
Puducherry accomplished an incredible chase in the SMAT 2021, defeating Andhra’s target of 227 runs in a group-stage match at Wankhede. Even though two wickets fell quickly in powerplay, the great and brilliant unbeaten century of Sheldon Jackson along with the rapid contribution of Paras Dogra’s 51 off 18 balls drove Puducherry to a legendary win with four balls left to be played.
- 230 by Mumbai vs Andhra, Hyderabad (2024)
In 2024, the Mumbai Indians team made history by pulling off the highest successful run chase of SMAT, breaking the record once held by the Puducherry team from 2021. The captain Ajinkya Rahane was first to take the spotlight as he scored a breathtaking 95 runs from 54 balls, while Suryansh Shegde grabbed the spotlight right at the end with a quickfire 30 not out off just 8 balls, leading Mumbai to a nail-biting 230-run chase with three balls to spare in Hyderabad.
- 236 by Jharkhand vs Punjab, Pune (2025)
In the year 2025, the biggest chase ever recorded in the SMAT history took place, when Jharkhand successfully chased down Punjab’s enormous 236 runs at the DY Patil Academy in Pune. Salil Arora’s explosive 39-ball century was not enough, as the bowlers failed to back him up. Ishan Kishan’s quick-fire 47 in 23 balls was a perfect start, followed by Kumar Kushagra’s great not out 86 off 42 who was then in full control of the innings. The late-minute hitting from Anukul Roy and Pankaj Kumar completed the chase with 11 balls remaining in a spectacular evening of Pune.
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