[Watch] Ajinkya Rahane gets out on 98 off 56 balls in SMAT 2024 semifinal

Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane agonizingly missed out on a match-winning hundred in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy semi-final against Baroda at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, December 13. The right-handed batter perished after scoring 98 runs off 56 deliveries as Mumbai chased down the 159-run target in 17.2 overs.

Coming on the back of a match-winning fifty against Vidarbha in the quarter-finals, Rahane opened the innings with Prithvi Shaw. Mumbai ran into early trouble as Shaw departed for eight runs, but Rahane's intent ensured a prolific powerplay worth 61 runs for his side.

Joined by Shreyas Iyer in the middle, Rahane continued his onslaught, reducing the required rate with each passing over. The skipper looked set for a hundred, reaching the 90-run mark after 16 overs, with nine runs still to get. Suryakumar Yadav even defended the last three deliveries of the 16th over to help Rahane have a shot at the three-figure mark.

The opening batter scored two fours in the first half of the 17th over bowled by Abhimanyu Singh, leaving him just a hit away, with the scores level. However, while attempting a flick off the next ball, he got the leading edge. The ball went high up in the air for a simple catch to end the knock.

Have a look at the dismissal right here:

Rahane is on a brilliant run of form in the shortest format. He is the leading run-scorer of the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy, with 432 runs in seven innings at an average of 61.71, with five fifties. Prior to the semi-final, he perished in the nineties in the group-stage clash against Andhra in Hyderabad as well.

"Really happy with the way I am batting" - Ajinkya Rahane

After being released by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Ajinkya Rahane was roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a second stint, for a sum of INR 1.5 crore at the recent IPL auction. He has emerged as a leadership candidate for the team as well, with Shreyas Iyer leaving the defending champions for a new stint with the Punjab Kings (PBKS).

"Really happy with the way I am batting. Happy we won the match, hundreds will keep happening but it is about winning matches, keeping the positive intent and playing for the team. The way T20 is moving, you need to capitalize on the first six overs. I was batting at number 4 initially but I was told by the team management to open the batting," Rahana said during the post-match presentation (via Cricbuzz).

Mumbai will face the winners of the second semi-final clash between Delhi and Madhya Pradesh in the final.