GEORGETOWN – Openers Zachary Carter and Saiteja Mukkamalla scored half centuries to power the Desert Vipers to a comprehensive nine-wicket win over the San Francisco Unicorns to register their first win in the Global Super League (GSL) in Guyana on Monday.
Player-of-the-Match Carter blasted 55 runs off just 29 balls inclusive of seven fours and three sixes, while Mukkamalla hit 52 off 42 balls, as the Vipers easily overhauled the Unicorns’ total of 151 for seven, finishing on 152 for one in 16.1 overs at Providence Stadium.
The pair shared an opening stand of 74 runs in eight overs to give the Vipers a solid start, before Anirudh Immanuel got the breakthrough by bowling Carter.
There was no further success for the Unicorns, however, as Rilee Rossouw, who scored an unbeaten 38, joined Mukkamalla at the crease, with the two sharing an unbroken partnership of 78 to lead their side to victory.
The result was their first win in three games and kept them in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Earlier, Shadab Khan grabbed four wickets to help limit the Unicorns after they elected to bat first.
Tim Robinson and Connor Esterhuizen gave the Unicorns a decent start by putting on 64 runs for the first wicket in eight overs, but once Khan dismissed both batters, the innings lost momentum.
Robinson topscored with 46 off 35 balls, while Esterhuizen hit 37 off 29 balls.
Khan ended with 4-13 from his four overs.
CMC
