Records tumbled on the opening day of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as Kerala’s dynamic opening duo, Sanju Samson and Rohan Kunnumal, etched their names in history. They achieved the highest-ever opening partnership in the tournament’s history, remaining not out with a remarkable 177 runs against Odisha. This astonishing achievement came just hours after Gujarat’s Urvil Patel and Aarya Desai had set a new record of 174 runs. Kunnumal was in scintillating form, blasting an unbeaten 121 runs off a mere 60 balls, featuring ten fours and ten sixes. Samson played the anchor role, contributing a steady 51 not out from 41 balls. Their unbroken alliance propelled Kerala to an emphatic 10-wicket win, successfully chasing down 177 runs in 16.3 overs. This new record comfortably surpasses the previous best of 159 runs. The electrifying performances highlight the explosive talent on display in the SMAT.
