Bengal Tigers vs Kerala Strikers Highlights, CCL 2026 Semi-Final: KER 177/6 (20), BT 178/5 (19.4) | Rahul's Blitzkrieg Powers Tigers To Grand Final...

Bengal Tigers vs Kerala Strikers AS IT HAPPENED, CCL 2026: Bengal Tigers staged a sensational comeback to chase down 178, defeating Kerala Strikers by five wickets to book a place in the CCL 2026 Final.

Kerala set 177/6, powered by Arjun Nanda Kumar's 61 and Unni Mukundan's 41, after a steady start and a middle-over acceleration. Bengal struggled at 127/5 in the 17th over, still needing 51 runs. The game swung dramatically in the final overs as Rahul Mazumder's 11-ball 40, including six towering sixes, propelled Bengal to 178/5 in 19.4 overs, sealing a thrilling victory.

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Bengal Tigers, led by Jisshu Sengupta, have arguably been the most consistent side of the tournament so far. They stormed into the semis

with a flawless group-stage record, winning all three of their matches. Bengal's balanced unit, combining disciplined bowling with reliable batting, has given them an edge throughout the league phase. They will also draw confidence from their earlier group-stage encounter against Kerala, where they registered a 13-run victory.

On the other hand, Kerala Strikers, captained by Unni Mukundan, are a team that thrives under pressure. Winning two out of three group matches, Kerala showed resilience and the ability to bounce back after setbacks. While they fell short against Bengal earlier in the tournament, the Strikers will take heart from the fact that knockout games are a different beast altogether. A strong all-round performance on the day could tilt the balance in their favour.

Form and momentum slightly favour Bengal, but Kerala's hunger to avenge their group-stage loss adds an intriguing subplot to this semi-final. With both teams eyeing a place in the final, fans can expect a closely fought contest.