Published on Aug 8
GUWAHATI: Displaying an all-round performance, Guwahati Royals registered a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Tezpur Titans in the Assam Premier League at the ACA Stadium on Saturday. The win lifted Guwahati Royals to second place in the points table, with six points from four matches.
Chasing 147 for victory, Guwahati Royals raced to the target in just 12.5 overs, losing only two wickets in the process. Openers Rohit Sen and Sanjay Kumar Singh produced blistering half-centuries to set up the emphatic win.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Tezpur Titans endured a shaky start, losing Mohammad Kaif and Roshan Topno inside the powerplay. Wasim Akram Haque, however, steadied the innings with a brilliant 82 off 54 balls, striking three fours and seven sixes. His knock is now the second-highest individual score of the tournament.
Haque found an able partner in Nihar Deka, with the pair adding 82 runs for the third wicket to revive the Titans' innings. However, Tezpur lost momentum in the closing stages after Haque's dismissal triggered a collapse.
Mrinmoy Dutta then struck twice in three deliveries, dismissing Danish Ahmed and skipper Ayushman Malakar. Nipan Deka and Deepak Gohain also chipped in with a wicket each as Guwahati's bowlers claimed the final five wickets for just 12 runs.
Tezpur Titans eventually finished on 146/8 in their allotted 20 overs, with Dutta emerging as the pick of the Guwahati attack with three wickets.
In reply, Guwahati Royals made a blistering start as Sen and Singh tore into the Titans' bowling attack. The opening pair raced to 108 without loss inside the first 10 overs, producing a flurry of boundaries.
The duo smashed 73 runs in the first six overs, setting a new record for the highest powerplay score in the competition.
Sen was particularly aggressive, smashing 65 off just 30 balls, including three fours and four sixes. He also registered the fastest half-century of the tournament, reaching the landmark in just 23 balls.
Singh was equally destructive, scoring 65 off 39 deliveries, with six fours and three sixes. Although Danish Ahmed and Abir Chakraborty eventually dismissed the two openers, the damage had already been done.
Captain Rishiv Das then finished the chase in style, remaining unbeaten on 15 off seven balls as Guwahati Royals reached 147/2 in 12.5 overs to seal a comprehensive eight-wicket victory.
Brief scores:
Tezpur Titans: 146/8 in 20 overs (Wasim Akram Haque 82, Nihar Deka 20; Mrinmoy Dutta 3/27, Bastab Roy 1/15).
Guwahati Royals: 147/2 in 12.5 overs (Rohit Sen 65, Sanjay Kumar Singh 65, Rishav Das 15 no; Danish Ahmed 1/23, Abir Chakraborty 1/16).
PHOTO CAPTION: Rohit Sen in action during his 65 runs knock at the ACA Stadium on Saturday.
KEY STATS
• Guwahati Royals' 73 runs in the powerplay is a new tournament record.
• Rohit Sen's 23-ball half-century is the fastest fifty of the competition.
• Wasim Akram Haque's 82 is the second-highest individual score of the tournament.

Dibrugarh’s good run continue
GUWAHATI, Aug 8: A blazing unbeaten half-century from skipper Saahil Jain guided Dibrugarh Warriors to register 6 wickets win against Jorhat Stallion in the day’s second match held under flood light at the same venue. The win helped Dibrugarh to stay unbeaten in the competition and stay at the top of the points table with 8 points from 4 matches.
Brief Scores:
Jorhat Stallions: 132/8 in 20 overs (Dyutimoy Nath 43, Erik Roy 22, Rajjak Uddin Ahmed 20*; Jitumoni Kalita 2/16, Rituraj Biswas 1/13).
Dibrugarh Warriors: 133/4 in 17.4 overs (Saahil Jain 59 no, Jay Borah 28; Abhilash Gogoi 1/25, Bishal Newar 1/22).