Without Sanju, Kerala bundled out for 101, end Syed Mushtaq Ali campaign with defeat

With Sanju Samson taking off to join Team India for the South Africa series, Kerala wrapped up their campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 with a five-wicket loss to Assam after posting their lowest total in Lucknow.

Kerala's hopes of reaching the knockouts had ended on the weekend following a defeat to Andhra. Today, Assam chased down a lowly target of 102 runs with seven balls to spare. Pradyun Saikia scored an unbeaten 41 off 39 to guide Assam to victory.

Kerala, led by 19-year-old Ahammed Imran in the absence of Sanju, struggled to find boundaries in Lucknow on a wicket that seemed slower than usual. Only four sixes were hit, of which three came in the last 11 balls of the innings; incidentally, a hat-trick of big hits contributed by tail-enders M D Nidheesh and N M Sharafuddeen.

Kerala made 30/1 in powerplay, which seemed decent considering they went without a boundary for more than five overs before Nidheesh got down on one knee and cleared long on in the final ball of the 18th over.

Opener Rohan S Kunnummal top-scored with 23 off 33 balls, while Sharafuddeen hit 15 off 8. Sadak Hussain finished with 4/19, including three off the final over. Avinav Choudhury, Abdul Kuraishi and Mukhtar Hussain claimed two wickets each.

Brief scores: Kerala 101 in 19.4 overs (Rohan S Kunnummal 23, Sadak Hussain 4/19, Avinav 2/15, Kuraishi 2/16, Mukhtar 2/18) lost to Assam 105/5 in 18.5 overs (Pradyun Saikia 41 not out, Asif KM 2/22)