Tue Dec 16 10:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Sarfaraz Khan Blitzes Again as Mumbai, Punjab Chase Down Massive Totals in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

MUMBAI, India – Sarfaraz Khan continued his explosive form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, smashing a blistering 73 off just 22 balls to propel Mumbai to a stunning victory over Rajasthan after successfully chasing a 216+ total for the second game in a row. In another high-scoring Super League match, Punjab overcame a challenging 226-run target against Madhya Pradesh, securing a crucial win.

Mumbai’s chase against Rajasthan was a spectacle of power hitting. After Rajasthan posted a formidable 216, fueled by half-centuries from Mukul Choudhary (54) and Deepak Hooda (51), as well as a quick-fire 48 from Ramnivas Golada, Sarfaraz Khan ignited Mumbai’s innings with his whirlwind knock. He paired with Ajinkya Rahane (72 off 41) who added 111 off just 38 balls. Atharva Ankolekar (26 off 9) provided the finishing touches, despite Manav Suthar’s 3 for 23 for Rajasthan. Khan has scored 64 off 25 against Hyderabad in the previous game.

Meanwhile, in Pune, Punjab secured a thrilling two-wicket victory against Madhya Pradesh in another high-octane encounter. Chasing 226, Punjab relied on half-centuries from Harnoor Singh and Salil Arora, along with a crucial unbeaten 35 off 21 balls from Ramandeep Singh, to reach the target with five balls to spare. Despite an early setback with the loss of captain Prabhsimran Singh, Anmolpreet Singh and Harnoor Singh aggressively countered. Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Aniket Verma and Mangesh chipped in with handy cameos to lift Madhya Pradesh to 225 for 8. This chase marked the seventh instance of Punjab crossing the 200-run mark in the tournament this season, the most by any side, and further solidifies their reputation as a formidable chasing team.

Venkatesh Iyer was the top scorer for Madhya Pradesh with 70 off 43 balls, but his efforts ultimately proved insufficient against Punjab’s determined batting lineup. Gurnoor Brar was the standout bowler for Punjab, finishing with figures of 3 for 45.

These results showcase the thrilling, high-scoring nature of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with teams consistently pushing the boundaries of T20 batting.

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