SMAT | Andhra extends winning streak against Kerala

Andhra dominates Kerala with a six-wicket win in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 championship, topping the points table.

Andhra put up another dominant performance to score a six-wicket win over Kerala to top the points table with five wins from five games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 championship Group- E match at Gymkhana Ground here on Tuesday.

Ricky Bhui’s decision to put Kerala in to bat in overcast conditions saw pacer C. Stephen having India star and Kerala captain Sanju Samson all at sea in a superb first over. The star batter was clueless to four consecutive balls which swung late.

But, it was the other pacer K. Sudharsan who produced an absolute beauty - in-form Rohan Kunnummal (9) beaten by sheer pace and late movement as the ball clipped the bails. Samson (7) mistimed a pull stroke off pacer K.V. Sasikanth to be caught comfortably inside the circle.

Jalaj Saxena leaned into a splendid six over covers off the first ball he faced from Sudharsan and late cut to the fence in the same over but soon Kerala batting was in disarray in the face of an impressive show by Andhra bowlers.

With Jalaj Saxena stranded off a brilliant field effort by Sasikanth from covers to make it 55 for seven in 11.5 overs, Kerala was eventually bowled out for 87 in 18.1 overs.

Sasikanth (three for 23) was the most successful bowler while Sudharsan, P.V.S.N. Raju and left-arm spinner Vinay took two wickets apiece.

Expectedly, Andhra, powered by an impressive knock by India star K. Srikar Bharat (56 n.o., 33b, 7x4, 2x6) was never really in a spot of bother chasing a mediocre target even as Jalaj Saxena picked three wickets.