SMAT: Urvil Patel’s Explosive Century Powers Gujarat, Shivam Dube Shines on Comeback

In a thrilling day of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) action, Gujarat’s Urvil Patel once again showcased his blazing form with a record-breaking unbeaten 115 off just 41 balls, steering his team to a commanding 8-wicket victory over Uttarakhand on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 183, Patel singlehandedly dominated the Uttarakhand bowlers, smashing eight fours and 11 sixes. The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter’s explosive innings propelled Gujarat to the joint-top spot in Group C with five wins from six matches.

Patel’s heroics come shortly after his astonishing 28-ball century against Tripura last week, which made him India’s fastest and the second-quickest player globally to reach a T20 century. He narrowly missed the world record set by Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan by just one ball.

Meanwhile, Saurashtra joined Gujarat at the top of Group C with a clinical 58-run win over Tamil Nadu. Building on their momentum from a mammoth 266/6 against Baroda in their previous match, Saurashtra posted an imposing 235/5, thanks to contributions from Harvik Desai (55), Ruchit Ahir (56), and Sammar Gajjar (55*). Tamil Nadu, unable to match the intensity, managed only 177/9, marking their fourth defeat in six games.

Mumbai also made headlines, extending their win streak to two with a comfortable 39-run victory over Services. Shivam Dube, making his return after a three-month hiatus due to a back injury, was pivotal with an unbeaten 71. His third-wicket partnership with Suryakumar Yadav (70) formed the backbone of Mumbai’s 192/4. Shardul Thakur further strengthened the team’s effort with an impressive 4/25, ensuring a comprehensive win for Mumbai.

Also See: SMAT schedule, upcoming matches and timing

As the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy heats up, Gujarat and Saurashtra remain neck and neck in Group C, while players like Patel, Dube, and Yadav continue to make significant impacts with their stellar performances.