Hazare Trophy: Akhin, Bazith star as Kerala stun Saurashtra

Alur (Bengaluru): Debutant Akhin Sathar's four-wicket haul and a fine 60 by Abdul Bazith helped Kerala pull off a three-wicket win over defending champions Saurashtra in their opening Group A match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy national one-day championship here on Thursday.

Kerala, chasing a modest target of 186, were in a spot at 61/4 in the 17th over before Bazith and Akhil Scaria (28) added 88 for the fifth wicket. Bazith's 76-ball knock was studded with nine fours and a six.

Though the two fell in the space of two runs, Shreyas Gopal (21 not out) took them home. Captain Sanju Samson made 30. Ankur Panwar was the most successful Saurashtra bowler with figures of 4/50 from his 10 overs.

Earlier, Kerala pacer Basil Thampi struck early after Sanju opted to bowl. Basil removed Sheldon Jackson for four in the fifth over of the match. Medium-pacer Akhin caught and bowled the other opener Harvik Desai for eight. Basil dismissed Prerak Mankad for a duck when the batter was caught and bowled. 

Samarth Vyas was clean bowled by Akhil Scaria for nine as Saurashtra collapsed to 29/4 in the 10th over. 

Arpit Vasavada (3), Chirag Jani (2) and Parth Bhut (2) were all sent back by Akhin as Saurashtra slumped to 65/7.

Vishvaraj Jadeja and captain Jaydev Unadkat put on 69 for the eighth wicket to take Saurashtra past the 100-run mark. Leggie Gopal broke the stand by removing Unadakat for 37.

The 20-year-old Akhin ended up with figures of 4/39 from his 10 overs.

Jadeja top-scored with 98. He hit five fours and as many sixes in his 121-ball knock before falling in the final over.

Kerala next play Mumbai on Saturday.

Brief scores: Saurashtra 185 in 49.1 overs (Vishvaraj Jadeja 98; Akhin Sathar 4/39, Shreyas Gopal 2/29, Basil Thampi 2/42) lost to Kerala 188/7 in 47.4 overs (Abdul Bazith 60; Ankur Panwar 4/50).

Points: Kerala 4; Saurashtra 0.