Kerala has started their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign in stellar fashion, winning their first match by 10 wickets against Odisha.
The Kerala side dominated with the bat and chased down a target of 177
runs with 21 balls to spare, without losing a solitary wicket.
Sanju Samson scored a steady unbeaten half-century, as he remained not out on 51 off 41 deliveries. But the star of the show was Rohan Kunnummal, who smashed an unbeaten 121 off just 60 balls to secure their dominating victory.
Kunnummal was excellent on the day, as he smashed 10 fours and 10 sixes in his stellar knock, guiding Kerala to a fantastic victory.
Kerala vs Odisha - As It Happened
Odisha posted a competitive 176 for 7 in their 20 overs, with captain Samantray top-scoring 53 off 41 balls. Key contributions also came from Sambit S Baral (40) and Gaurav Choudhary (29), but Kerala's bowler Nidheesh was impressive, taking 4 wickets for 35 runs to restrict Odisha's scoring.
Kerala's chase was extremely efficient, powered by a spectacular batting partnership. Rohan Kunnummal played a blazing innings scoring 121 off 60 balls, striking 10 sixes and 10 fours at a strike rate of over 200. He was well supported by skipper and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, who remained unbeaten on 51 off 41 balls. The pair completed the run chase in just 16.3 overs without losing a wicket, showcasing clinical batting and overpowering the bowling attack. Extras added 5 runs, further aiding Kerala's swift victory.
The bowling from Kerala was disciplined with KM Asif and Ankit Sharma picking up two wickets between them to keep Odisha in check initially. However, the standout performance was Nidheesh's lethal spell that dismantled the Odisha middle and lower order. Sanju's elder brother Saly also played the match but he had a subdued performance.
