Guwahati, Aug 22 (IANS) The stage is set for a fitting finale to the inaugural Assam Premier League (APL), with the top two teams from the league stage, Guwahati Royals and Barpeta Braves, set to battle for the title at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium on Sunday.
The two sides finished level on 14 points after the league stage, with Guwahati Royals taking top spot on the strength of a superior net run rate of 0.920, ahead of Barpeta Braves at 0.614. The final brings together two teams that have consistently impressed through the tournament, setting up an exciting contest for the inaugural title.
For Guwahati Royals, the campaign has been driven by a potent combination of young talent and experienced heads. They will head into the final on the back of a commanding seven-wicket victory over Barak Legends in a rain-curtailed semi-final. Rohit Sen’s stunning 62 off 26 balls powered them into the title clash, while Bastab Roy once again underlined his importance with the ball, claiming 3/18. Roy has been one of the standout performers of the APL and currently leads the bowling charts with 22 wickets, putting him firmly in line for the Purple Cap.
However, the young pacer has insisted that team success remains his priority. “I don’t put individual performance ahead. Yes, I am currently on top of the Purple Cap standings, but that’s a different thing. Winning for the team is more important. And playing the final is even better,” said Bastab.
He also highlighted the value of having experienced players around him during his breakthrough campaign. “This tournament is a very big tournament for me. I have played club cricket and district cricket before. So, senior players like Rishabh Das, Deepak Das, Mukhtar Hussain and Abu sir (coach of the Royals), it feels good to work with them,” he said.
Barpeta Braves, meanwhile, overcame Dibrugarh Warriors in a thrilling semi-final, with Saurav Mousum Dihingia carrying his bat for an unbeaten 63 to guide them into the final. Their campaign has been built around a strong collective effort, particularly from their bowling unit, with Shubham Kumar Gupta among the leading wicket-takers of the league with 19 wickets.
Shubham Kumar Gupta has been one of the key contributors to their campaign with 19 wickets, and the all-rounder believes the team’s ability to bounce back has been crucial. “The good thing about a good team is that they make a comeback after losing, which we did. Our team played as a unit. That’s why we reached here today,” said Shubham.
With the final now in sight, Shubham is keen for Barpeta to approach the occasion in the same manner as any other game. “We will play the final as we play other matches. There is no pressure that it is the final. We started playing cricket because we liked it. That’s why we have enjoyed it till now. We will play the final as well,” he said.
Barpeta will, however, head into the title clash without skipper Denish Das, who led the side through most of the season but has left to join his Duleep Trophy commitments. The Braves will now look to their squad to step up in his absence.
The final also carries significant rewards, with the champions set to receive ₹50 lakh and the runners-up ₹25 lakh.
With the two top-ranked teams meeting for the title and a historic championship at stake, the inaugural Assam Premier League is set for a grand finale on Sunday night.
–IANS
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