[Watch] Ex-RCB Batter Sachin Baby Smashes Record-Breaking Century In Kerala Cricket League
Sachin Baby hit a blistering hundred (X)
Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter Sachin Baby played a knock for the ages and etched his name into Kerala Cricket League (KCL) history with the tournament’s first-ever century. His unbeaten 105 off 50 balls, a blistering display of power, carried Aries Kollam Sailors to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Kochi Blue Tigers, chasing down a target of 159 with eight balls to spare.
Sachin Baby’s unbeaten 105 sealed victory for Kollam Sailors
With the pressure mounting and wickets tumbling early in the chase, Sachin Baby proved that cometh the hour, cometh the man. Losing opener Abhishek Nair for just 10 runs, the Sailors needed someone to step up, and their captain rose to the occasion.
His knock, filled with five boundaries and eight colossal sixes, was nothing short of a masterclass in how to chase down a challenging target.
The turning point came when Baby, already well set on 50, decided to switch gears and turn up the heat. He raced to his century in just 16 more balls, including a jaw-dropping over where he smashed four consecutive sixes off Manu Krishna. It was a sight to behold, as the crowd roared and the opposition bowlers were left clutching at straws.
Leading from the front, Baby’s century was a captain’s knock in every sense, one that single-handedly turned the course of the game. His ability to keep a cool head under pressure and pick the gaps at will saw the Aries Kollam Sailors sail past Kochi’s total of 158/8.
Sijomon Joseph’s half-century in vain as Kochi falls short of par score
Earlier in the game, Kochi Blue Tigers posted a respectable total, with Sijomon Joseph holding the innings together with a solid 50 off 33 balls. The Tigers, however, were unable to build on their promising start, as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Biju Narayanan and KM Asif, both bagging two wickets each, put the brakes on Kochi’s run flow, ensuring the target remained within reach for their team.
Kochi’s innings started on shaky ground, with opener Ananthakrishnan dismissed for just 12 runs. Despite Joseph’s gritty half-century and notable contributions from Vipul Shakti (29) and Jobin Joby (20), their total felt like a sitting duck in the face of Baby’s onslaught.
When the chase began, Aries Kollam Sailors appeared to be in a spot of bother, losing Abhishek Nair early. But Baby, with ice in his veins, rebuilt the innings single handedly and guided his team to a seven-wicket win.
With this victory, the Aries Kollam Sailors remain sitting pretty at the top of the points table, with six wins from seven matches.