KSO VS SSS MATCH 12

That is it from Surat then. The caravan moves to Jammu, which will host game number 13 of the tournament, between Manipal Tigers and Toyam Hyderabad. Both the teams are at the bottom end of the ladder but mathematically, both can qualify. It is a new venue, different pitch, so all eyes would be on the surface. Will it be another belter? Why don't you join us to find out? The first ball will be bowled on Thursday, 3rd October, 2024 at 7 pm IST (1330 GMT) but we will be in well early, with all our build-up. In the meantime, you can catch all the action from the Ireland-South Africa ODI series, the Caribbean Premier League and most importantly, the Women's T20 World Cup which kicks off on 3rd October. Keep surfing our tabs for all the cricketing action. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

The Southern Super Stars have qualified but they will want to keep on winning, especially at the business end of the tournament. They have two games left, both against Toyam Hyderabad, the first of which will be played on Saturday, 5th October, 2024, at 7 pm IST. Konark Suryas Odisha, on the other hand, are not out of it by any means, having slipped just one position - from second to third. But with the table looking packed, they will want to get back to winning ways. They take on India Capitals next, on Friday, 4th October, 2024, in a day game, at 3 pm IST.

Wow. That ends a game of records. Highest team score in the Powerplay. Third-fastest centurion. Highest individual score. Some way to end the Surat league. The crowd would have felt hard done by, with 4 out of the 6 slotted matches being washed out even before the toss could happen. But they still got a couple of games which were fairly entertaining. The caravan now moves to Jammu, which will host 6 games as well and we hope that rain does not play spoiltsport there.

Victorious Southern Super Stars skipper, SHREEVATS GOSWAMI, says that in the strategic break after the Powerplay in the first innings, the team got into a chat and credits the bowlers for pulling things back tremendously. Praises Guptill for his knock. On being asked as to how did they script the turnaround, Goswami does not quite spill all his cards, mentioning that everyone bowled as a unit, though admitting that Levi's wicket was a big help. On Guptill's form, Shreevats says that the Kiwi was not picked initially but got picked later in the auction. Is all smiles with the New Zealander showing what he did all his career for New Zealand.

Southern Super Stars' MARTIN GUPTILL HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Guptill says that there were only 2 overs where he felt he was hitting the ball cleanly. Is happy with the win and the fact that they have qualified. On taking on Navin Stewart, Martin says that he felt that Stewart would specifically go for slower deliveries and Guptill capitalized. Says that adding to the heat, no breeze makes it very difficult for the players, resulting in a lot of sweat. Feels that the short boundaries in Surat have helped the batters a lot.

Konark Suryas Odisha skipper, IRFAN PATHAN, admits that the game was lost post the Powerplay of Odisha's batting. Details that they were coming back through the partnership between the Pathan brothers but Irfan's wicket triggered a collapse, for which, he whole-heartedly takes the blame. Believes that in the first 5 overs of his team's bowling Powerplay, Odisha did well but then praises Guptill for showing his class. Does not want to blame the pitch for being so flat but rather calls it as a stern test for all the bowlers as there was no margin for error. Rues a few missed chances in the field which could have changed the game but does not want to give any excuse for the poor fielding display. Is not too concerned with two back-to-back games but rather feels excited, as after their opening match victory, they have slipped down the radar and lost momentum. Believes that they need to win 2 out of their remaining 3 games and hopes to get back to winning ways.

Earlier in the day, Konark Suryas Odisha lost their way miraculously. They registered the highest ever Powerplay total in Legends League Cricket history - 91/1 - but then lost their way totally. They managed roughly those many runs in total in the remaining 14 overs, posting 192, which at one stage, looked like 230-250. Barring Richard Levi's 63, only Yusuf Pathan (33) could cross 20. The Super Stars started wayward with the ball but then came back strongly, through Subodh Bhati and Chaturanga de Silva, whose combined figures read 5-0-43-5. Guess, if you have one of the greatest ever finishers in your backroom staff - MICHAEL BEVAN - you do find a way to get back into contests. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

Unfortunately, for Odisha, with Irfan Pathan not quite ready to bowl, they ran short of bowling options. They got away with it in their first game but not here. Ben Laughlin and Vinay Kumar tried to keep things in check but could not quite get much support from the rest. Additionally, due to the dew, with the ball getting wet, Irfan could not turn to part-time spinners either - like Yusuf Pathan or Dilshan Munaweera.

From there on, Konark Suryas Odisha simply found it difficult to get back into the contest. They started to reel under pressure, missing stumping chances and dropping catches. They saw a 90-run stand in 44 balls for the second wicket between Hamilton Masakadza and Martin Guptill and there was a simmer of a chance when Guptill miscued one in the air - only for Dilshan Munaweera to make a mess of it. The Kiwi then just teed off, hitting sixes at will. One of the main battles to watch out for was between Guptill and Stewart - except that it was totally one-sided - 11 balls - 62 runs - 9 sixes and 2 fours. Ouch.

It was not a typical crash-bang start from the Super Stars. They took their time initially and even lost their skipper early. But then came that final over of the Powerplay bowled by Navin Stewart - Martin Guptill decided to take him on and went 6 6 6 4 6 and 6 - extracting 34 runs from the over single-handedly. Before that over, SSS were 44/1 after 5 overs, needing another 149 from 90 balls. This over changed the complexion of the game completely.

15 sixes between Levi and Guptill - in different innings of the game. 11 were hit by Guptill, 3 or 4 of which went beyond 100 metres, meaning that we had to keep on searching for replacement balls. The crowd has got its money's worth, seeing 387 runs scored in 36 overs, with as many as 23 sixes hit. Factor this - the whole of Odisha hit a total of 10 sixes. Guppy hit one more than the whole lot combined! The crowd simply loved it, but got to feel for the bowlers.

This has been some chase by the Southern Super Stars. They have registered their 5th straight win of the tournament and become the first team to win their first 5 matches in the history of Legends League Cricket! What a game witnessed by the spectators. If we thought Richard Levi was special, boy, Martin Guptill just made everyone struggle to remember anyone else but him.

FOUR! Fittingly, Guptill ends the game! A length ball, around off, coming in with the angle, Martin Guptill swings at it again and whips it to the deep backward square leg fence. SOUTHERN SUPER STARS WIN BY 8 WICKETS AND 24 BALLS TO SPARE, QUALIFY FOR THE KNOCKOUTS!

A short ball, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a run.

A full ball, on middle, Martin Guptill gets down on a knee and attempts a slog but is beaten by the lack of pace. The ball goes off the inner half of the bat through fine leg. A run taken.

Outside off, pushed towards long off for a single.

SIX! BELLIGERENT! Negi joins in on the fun. Slower ball from Laughlin but the length is short. Pawan Negi picks the length and change in pace and pulls it flat over mid-wicket. SSS are a hit away from their 5th straight win.

Slower ball, on a length, outside off, Pawan Negi looks to push it away but the ball pitches and moves away off the seam. Beats the outside edge.