Kerala notched up a convincing, eight-wicket win over Nagaland in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 championship Group E match at Gymkhana Ground on Wednesday.
Kerala, without India star Sanju Samson today, was still too good for Nagaland, indicating the huge gap in the standard.
Chasing 121, Kerala, despite losing opener Vishnu Vinod, who went for the slog only to be bowled by medium-pacer Dip Borah in the second over, was never in trouble.
Rohan Kunnummal (57, 28b, 6x4, 3x6) and the experienced Sachin Baby (48 n.o., 31b, 6x4, 1x6) put on a 105-run stand for the second wicket off just 55 balls, extinguishing Nagaland’s hopes.
Rohan Kunnummal and Sachin Baby put on a 105-run stand for the second wicket off just 55 balls against Nagaland. | Photo Credit: V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM
Rohan launched a splendid six over long off, and then hit another over bowler Borah’s head in one over to make it clear that Kerala had an eye on the run-rate too.
Sachin Baby, too, showed his class, playing a reverse sweep and then a sweep off consecutive balls of Nagaland captain Rongsen Jonathan.
When it looked like Rohan and Sachin would see the team through, the former, after hitting two consecutive huge sixes over long-off and long-on in the 11th over, went for another big stroke only to miss the line and be bowled, off Khrievitso Kense.
Then, southpaw Salman Nazir hit a six and a four off Chopise Hopongkyu to finish the game in style for Kerala in the 12th over.
Earlier, Nagaland scored 120 for eight in 20 overs thanks to opener Shamphri Terang (32, 33b, 4x4) and Jonathan (22, 25b, 1x4, 1x6) who put on 57 for the first wicket in 9.1 overs before the latter hit was dismissed by spinner Abdul Bazith.
Nagaland batters’ approach was disappointing with no urgency to go for the runs from the word go. But, for a breezy knock by No. 7 D. Nischal (22, 13b, 3x4), it would have struggled to cross the 100-mark.
Kerala bowlers struck regularly, with pacers Basil Thampi (two for 27) and N.P. Basil (three for 16) being the pick of the bowlers.
In another match at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Andhra, powered by brilliant half-centuries by K. Srikar Bharat (57 n.o., 38b, 6x4, 2x6) and captain Ricky Bhui (72 n.o., 38b, 5x4, 6x6) recorded an eight-wicket win over Goa. Goa put up a competitive total thanks to a fine knock by No.5 Suyash Prabhudessai (71 n.o., 51b, 9x4) but it proved not to be enough.
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