Systematic analysis of metamagnetic transitions in A-site disordered Sm0.5(Ca0.5−ySry)MnO3 compounds: A combined experimental and model Hamiltonian study

•‘Sr’ doping (in place of ‘Ca’) in Sm0.5Ca0.5MnO3 induces ferromagnetic clusters in the CO-AFM material.•Magnetotransport properties of Sm0.5(Ca0.5−ySry)MnO3 show that ferromagnetism is optimum for y = 0.25.•Critical field (Hcr) for metamagnetic transition decreases with increase of average A-site ionic radius.•The dependence of Hcr on field sweep rate indicates the martensitic nature of the transition.