Tripura concluded their Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 campaign with a disappointing 4-wicket loss to Saurashtra in their final group-stage match on Thursday. The game, held at the Emerald Heights International School Stadium in Indore, saw Saurashtra chase down a target of 136 runs with 39 balls to spare, securing victory while losing six wickets.
Tripura’s Innings: A Tale of Recovery Amid Collapse
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Tripura endured a catastrophic start, losing five wickets for just 41 runs. The team teetered on the edge of disaster until Bikram Kumar Das and Manishankar Murasing staged a remarkable recovery. Their sixth-wicket partnership added 76 runs off 52 balls, giving the team a semblance of stability.
Bikram scored a gritty 52 off 44 balls, smashing three boundaries and two sixes. This marked his third half-century of the tournament. Meanwhile, Manishankar played an explosive knock, scoring 51 off 31 balls with three boundaries and three towering sixes. Despite their efforts, Tripura’s innings folded at 136 runs in 19.3 overs.
For Saurashtra, Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/19, while Chirag Jani also claimed three wickets for 24 runs. Onatkar chipped in with two wickets for 20 runs.
Saurashtra’s Dominant Chase
In response, Saurashtra’s innings got off to a shaky start, losing an early wicket to Tripura’s disciplined bowling.
However, Tarang Gohel and Prerak Mankad quickly steadied the ship. Tarang blasted a quick-fire 21 off just 9 balls with five boundaries, while Prerak played a scintillating knock of 46 off 19 balls, laced with six boundaries.
Later, Ruchit Ahir and Gajjar Sommar sealed the win with aggressive batting.
Ruchit remained unbeaten on 37 off 19 balls, hitting four sixes, while Gajjar contributed 24 off 16 balls with two boundaries and a six. Saurashtra chased down the target in just 13.3 overs, finishing with six wickets in hand.
Bowling Highlights for Tripura
Ajay Sarkar and Parvez Sultan delivered impressive spells for Tripura, each claiming two wickets for just 14 runs. However, their efforts weren’t enough to defend the modest total.
Tripura’s Tournament Performance
Tripura played seven matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, managing to secure two wins and finishing with a total of 8 points. Despite flashes of brilliance from players like Bikram Kumar Das and Manishankar Murasing, the team struggled for consistency throughout the campaign.
(Tripura, Northeast)
