Karnataka’s chase in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025–26 final ended in frustration as they were restricted to 168/8 while chasing 190, falling 21 runs short despite a spirited late fightback. The scoreline tells a story of pressure applied consistently, plans executed well, and a title decided not by one dramatic moment but by sustained control from Hyderabad.
Chasing a stiff target in a final is never straightforward, and Karnataka were immediately put under stress by Hyderabad’s disciplined new-ball bowling. Early wickets disrupted momentum and forced Karnataka into a rebuild far sooner than they would have wanted. With the asking rate climbing, the margin for error narrowed quickly.
The powerplay phase set the tone. Hyderabad’s bowlers hit hard lengths, mixed pace smartly, and backed it up with sharp fielding. Karnataka struggled to find boundaries freely, and the lack of early acceleration meant the required rate hovered uncomfortably high throughout the innings.
The middle overs became decisive. Karnataka attempted to stabilise the chase, but Hyderabad’s bowlers were relentless. Spinners and seamers alike bowled into the pitch, denied room, and forced batters to take risks against the run of play. Dot balls piled up, and the pressure was evident as mistimed shots replaced fluent strokeplay.
At around the halfway mark, Karnataka were still in the game numerically, but the feel of the contest had shifted. Hyderabad looked calm and in control, while Karnataka appeared to be chasing not just runs, but momentum. Every over without a boundary tilted the final further away from them.
To Karnataka’s credit, there was a late fightback. Lower-order hitters threw caution to the wind, launching an aggressive counterattack in the closing overs. A flurry of boundaries briefly reignited hope and reduced the equation to something respectable. However, Hyderabad never panicked. Their bowlers stuck to plans — wide yorkers, slower balls, and deep boundary riders — forcing Karnataka to hit perfect shots repeatedly.
That was the difference. Finals are won by teams that make opponents play percentage-defying cricket, and Hyderabad did exactly that. Karnataka needed a sustained late surge, but wickets falling at crucial moments prevented any genuine last-over drama.
Ending on 168/8, Karnataka were close enough to suggest a contest, but far enough to underline Hyderabad’s superiority on the night. The loss of wickets throughout the innings meant the required acceleration came too late and with too few resources left.
Hyderabad’s fielding also played a key role. Sharp stops in the deep, quick returns, and clean catching ensured that Karnataka were denied easy runs even during their late push. Small margins mattered — and Hyderabad won nearly all of them.
For Karnataka, the defeat will sting. Reaching the final showed the strength of their campaign, but the inability to control key phases of the chase proved costly. They were neither explosive enough early nor stable enough in the middle to mount a complete challenge.
For Hyderabad, restricting Karnataka to 168/8 was the final act of a championship-winning performance. They defended their total with clarity, discipline, and composure — the hallmarks of a champion side. In the end, the 21-run margin felt fair, reflecting a final where Hyderabad were simply sharper when it mattered most.
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