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Kerala win, but edged out on net run rate

Rohan Prem's century salvaged a draw for Kerala ESPNcricinfo Ltd

They might have notched a narrow two-wicket win over Vidarbha in their final Group A Super League match, but that was not enough for Kerala to keep their chances of making the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Chasing 106 for victory, Kerala needed to reach their 106-run target in 15.1 overs to match the net run rate of Mumbai, who would play Baroda in the final Group A tie in the afternoon. In the end, Kerala huffed and puffed over the finishing line with eight balls to spare.

Failing to show the urgency proved dearly for Kerala, who, having elected to field, maintained a tight control over the opposition batsmen. The medium pace pairing of Niyas Nizar (3 for 14) and Manu Krishnan (3 for 27) dominated the Vidarbha batsmen, who scored at an astoundingly slow rate. Urvesh Patel top scored with 28 as Vidarbha were bowled out for 105 in the final over.

Kerala might have fancied an easy win but Vidarbha kept the interest alive when Swapnil Bandiwar trapped Kerala opener Sanju Samson leg before in the very first over. But Rohan Prem, the tournament's best batsman, made sure Kerala stayed in the hunt for the final.

But the Kerala batsmen panicked as the Vidarbha bowlers offered no loose deliveries to make the contest a tight one. The Akshays - off spinner Wakhare (3 for 26) and Karnewar, the ambidextrous spinner (3.4-1-14-1) had Kerala's lower order in a spot of bother as Vidarbha suddenly sniffed a possible tie if not a win as the match entered the final fiver overs.

That said, Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal would curse his decision to delay bringing in Karnewar with his unique gift of bowling left-arm spin to right-handers and off spin to left handers once again befuddled the opposition batsmen, but it was not enough as Vidarbha tried hard to defend a small total.

Kerala 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st5SV SamsonN Surendran
2nd27PR PremN Surendran
3rd29PR PremVA Jagadeesh
4th5PR PremSachin Baby
5th17RV GomezPR Prem
6th1PR PremFabid Ahmed
7th16PR PremP Prasanth
8th3P PrasanthU Manukrishnan
9th6N NiyasU Manukrishnan

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Super League Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
BRODA32180.299
MUM32180.196
KER32180.172
VIDAR3030-0.657
Super League Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
UP330120.688
GUJ32181.18
DELHI3124-0.059
JHK3030-1.714
Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
VIDAR651200.017
GUJ642161.559
TN642161.136
HP63312-0.025
HYD6248-0.27
BENG6248-0.786
HRYNA6154-1.406
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
KER651200.873
JHK651200.799
SAU642161.05
PNJB633120.528
RAJ62480.034
TPURA6248-1.079
J + K6060-2.235
Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
DELHI660241.936
BRODA651201.693
MP642160.101
RLYS6248-0.059
ASSAM6248-1.05
GOA6154-1.06
AP6154-1.485
Group D
TeamMWLPTNRR
UP550201.236
MUM532120.621
MAHA532120.152
KNTKA5238-0.21
SVCS5238-0.898
ODSA5050-0.819