Kerala/Mumbai: In a stunning upset in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Kerala defeated defending champions Mumbai by 15 runs in a Group A clash on Thursday. The match saw several of Mumbai’s star players fail to make an impact, while Kerala’s team, led by Sanju Samson, put up a commanding performance.
Kerala Sets a Competitive Total
Kerala batted first and posted 178 for 5. Sanju Samson provided a fiery start, scoring 46 runs off 28 balls with 8 boundaries and a six. Despite early setbacks, Vishnu Vinod contributed 43 runs off 40 balls, and Sharafuddin added a quick 35 off 15 balls, helping Kerala reach a competitive total. Mohammed Azharuddin also chipped in with 32 runs, sharing a 63-run partnership with Vinod.
Mumbai Fails to Chase
Chasing 179, Mumbai, led by Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur, fell short at 163 all out in 19.4 overs. After a promising partnership of 80 runs between Ajinkya Rahane (32) and Sarfaraz Khan (52), Mumbai seemed on course. However, KM Asif turned the game on its head, taking 5 crucial wickets for just 25 runs, dismissing Sairaj Patil, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shardul Thakur in a single over. He finished off the innings by removing Shams Mulani and Hardik Tamore in the final over.
This was Mumbai’s first loss in five matches of the T20 tournament, though they remain atop the group with 16 points. Kerala, with its third win, reached 12 points, placing third in the five-team pool, just behind Andhra in net run rate.
Other Matches: In the same round, Assam defeated Vidarbha by 58 runs, while Andhra beat Chhattisgarh by eight wickets.
Kerala’s disciplined bowling and impactful performances from key players, particularly KM Asif and Sanju Samson, proved decisive in toppling the star-studded Mumbai lineup.
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