Lucknow hosted a pivotal contest in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament on Tuesday,with Andhra Pradesh ultimately overpowering Kerala in a decisive match at the Ekana Stadium. The victory for Andhra Pradesh not only secures their position in the competition but also effectively eliminates Kerala from quarterfinal contention. KS Bharat’s aggressive half-century set the tone for a commanding Andhra chase, showcasing their intent in this crucial knockout-round qualifying match.
Andhra Pradesh Cruise Past Kerala in Must-Win T20 Clash
Lucknow: Andhra Pradesh delivered a decisive victory over Kerala in a crucial match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament, effectively ending Kerala’s quarterfinal hopes. Andhra Pradesh chased down a target of 120, reaching 123-3 in just 12 overs, while Kerala managed only 119-7 in their 20 overs. The result is a significant blow to Kerala’s chances in the competition.
KS Bharat’s quickfire 53 off 28 balls and Ashwin Hebbar’s 27 from 20 deliveries set the tone for Andhra’s successful chase, with the opening pair racing to 71 runs in 7.1 overs. Biju Narayanan broke the opening stand, dismissing Hebbar, and Vignesh Puthoor then claimed the wicket of Bharat to briefly inject some hope into the Kerala camp. However, the early damage was done, and Kerala struggled to contain the Andhra batsmen. Pai Avinash was later removed by Abdul Basith for 20 (12 balls), but Riki Bhui and Sheikh Rashid steered Andhra to victory.
Earlier, Kerala’s batting lineup faltered after electing to bat first, with only two players reaching double figures. Captain Sanju Samson waged a lone battle, remaining unbeaten on 73 off 56 balls, but lacked support from the rest of the order. Kerala’s innings began to unravel after losing Rohan Kunnummal for 2 in the fourth over.
Muhammad Asaruddin managed just 6 runs off 15 balls, while Krishnaprasad contributed 5 off 4 deliveries. Abdul Basith added 2 runs from 9 balls, and Salman Nizar was dismissed for 5 off 10. MD Nidhish was the only other Kerala batsman to reach double figures, scoring 13 off 12 balls. Satyannarayana Raju and Saurabh Kumar were the pick of the Andhra bowlers, both claiming two wickets.
The opening partnership proved pivotal, as Andhra Pradesh’s batsmen quickly put the pressure back on Kerala. Score: Kerala 119-7 in 20 overs, Andhra Pradesh 123-3 in 12 overs.
