Kochi Kingsmen, after opting to bat first, began cautiously before collapsing under pressure. Opener Jeffin Saad fell early, followed by a quick double blow that left them at 14/2. Skipper Vinu Nair and Abhijith attempted to steady the ship, and Abhijith rose to the occasion magnificently. His scintillating 61 off just 36 balls, peppered with five fours and three sixes, was the backbone of Kochi’s innings. Despite losing partners regularly, he held one end firm with aggression and timing. Contributions from Riyas Abdullah (29 off 23) and Krishnan (18 off 16) lifted Kochi to a competitive 158/10 in 20 overs. The batting, however, faltered toward the end as Deccan’s disciplined bowlers tightened the screws in the death overs.

The Deccan Strikers’ bowlers showcased excellent control, led by Karthick Deva’s composed spell of 4-0-29-2 and Noorul Aslam’s incisive two-wicket burst. Both pacers operated smartly with the variations, restricting the flow of boundaries. Skipper Johnson chipped in with a vital wicket, while Shafeer’s early breakthroughs derailed Kochi’s rhythm completely. Mehsoob’s fielding brilliance added to the pressure, pulling off a sharp catch to remove Meeraj Raj, a moment that swung momentum firmly Deccan’s way.