105/5 (18.5)
CR : 5.58
101/10 (19.4)
CR : 5.14
Assam won by 5 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Avinov Choudhury
2/15
18.4
1
K Asif to Kuraishi
Length ball outside off stump, Kuraishi taps it to the left of the bowler and takes off for a very quick single. The covers fielder reaches to the ball quickly but his shy at the bowler's end was a failed one. Just 3 to win now!
Sharp single. Almost as if he called for the run even before he played the ball. A direct hit at the non-striker's end would have sent him on his way to the dugout though.
18.5
6
K Asif to P Saikia
SIXXXX!!! Saikia finishes off in style! Length ball outside off stump, Saikia pulls it hard over the deep midwicket fielder for a six! Assam beat Kerala by 5 wickets!
Over 19
Assam 105/5
Pradyun Saikia41(39)
Abdul Ajij Kuraishi1(1)
KM Asif2-22(3.5)
ASM won by 5 wickets
2:29 PM IST, local time: Assam beat Kerala by 5 wickets.
Assam cap off the T20 leg, of what has been a start-stop season for them, with a laudable win. While the flow on the run chase mirrored their returns this year, there was hardly any doubt ever about them getting over the line. After all, the bowlers had set it up that well.
The toss was a significant one. Under hazy conditions, on a red soil wicket which had some moisture early on, Assam had no qualms about electing to field first. Mukhtar Hussain set the tone with a delectable spell up front. He bowled in the right areas, generated some extra bounce and also got the ball to move around prodigiously. He eventually finished with 2/18 off his 4 overs.
Although, he'd be the first to tell you that he should have had a third one too. Alas, there was an extra fielder outside the ring, when he got Sharafuddeen to edge one to the keeper. The aforementioned batter then went on to hit a couple of sixes, which propelled the total into triple digits. That little cameo was perhaps the only shining light in an otherwise forgettable outing for Kerala's batting line-up. Left arm spinner Avinov Chaudhury (2/15) and seamers Abdul Kuraishi (2/16) and Sadak Hussain (4/19) were the other wicket-takers.
The Assam batters looked just as tentative for the large part, while Kerala's seamers — led by KM Asif (2/22) — exploited the conditions well to make it as tough as possible. However, they just did not have enough runs on the board. Pradyun Saikia, with a stubborn 41* (39), shepherd Assam home.
Assam cap off the T20 leg, of what has been a start-stop season for them, with a laudable win. While the flow on the run chase mirrored their returns this year, there was hardly any doubt ever about them getting over the line. After all, the bowlers had set it up that well.
The toss was a significant one. Under hazy conditions, on a red soil wicket which had some moisture early on, Assam had no qualms about electing to field first. Mukhtar Hussain set the tone with a delectable spell up front. He bowled in the right areas, generated some extra bounce and also got the ball to move around prodigiously. He eventually finished with 2/18 off his 4 overs.
Although, he'd be the first to tell you that he should have had a third one too. Alas, there was an extra fielder outside the ring, when he got Sharafuddeen to edge one to the keeper. The aforementioned batter then went on to hit a couple of sixes, which propelled the total into triple digits. That little cameo was perhaps the only shining light in an otherwise forgettable outing for Kerala's batting line-up. Left arm spinner Avinov Chaudhury (2/15) and seamers Abdul Kuraishi (2/16) and Sadak Hussain (4/19) were the other wicket-takers.
The Assam batters looked just as tentative for the large part, while Kerala's seamers — led by KM Asif (2/22) — exploited the conditions well to make it as tough as possible. However, they just did not have enough runs on the board. Pradyun Saikia, with a stubborn 41* (39), shepherd Assam home.
Player of the Match: Avinov Choudhury (2/15 off 4 overs and 2 good catches at the boundary)
That brings us to the end of our coverage for this match. However, there is more SMAT action to follow. In about a couple of hours from now, Mumbai and Odisha will lock horns at the same venue for their respective final games of the group stage. Do join us for it.
For now, it is time for the troika of Darpan Tikiya, Manan Mehta and Sachin Yadav to sign off. Keep following Crickxo for more cricketing action. Sayonara!
For now, it is time for the troika of Darpan Tikiya, Manan Mehta and Sachin Yadav to sign off. Keep following Crickxo for more cricketing action. Sayonara!