Guwahati: It came right down to the wire, but Barak Legends got there in the end, chasing down 130 against Barpeta Braves with a three-wicket win off the very last ball of match number 17 at the Assam Premier League 2026, played at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday.
Sibsankar Roy set things up nicely with a fluent 41, though it was the lower order who actually finished the job, and finished it in style. Earlier in the day, Abhilash Maurya had dragged Braves to a defendable total after their innings threatened to fall apart in the middle overs.
Braves stumble early, then find their feet
Legends started fast with the ball, ripping through the top order inside five overs. Saurav Dihingia, Kabir Desmukh and Kunal Sharma were all gone cheaply, and when Gaurav Thakuria and skipper Denish Das followed soon after, Braves found themselves in real trouble at 44 for 5 in the ninth over.
That’s when Maurya took charge. He built a patient 47 off 44 balls, and found a willing partner in Bikiran Das, who chipped in with 29 off 25. Their sixth-wicket stand of 50 runs was exactly what Braves needed, and it dragged them back into the contest. Bhargab Pratim Lahkar, Mohit Thakur, Rabi Chetry, Abdul Ajij Kuraishi and Saurav Dey all picked up a wicket apiece as Braves finished on 129 for 8 after their 20 overs.
Roy gets the chase going before Braves fight back
Bishal Saha and Aman Singh gave Legends a solid, unhurried start, before Arun Sonar struck twice to remove both openers and put the brakes on. Roy then stepped up, smashing 41 off just 31 balls with two fours and two sixes to keep his side on track.
Braves didn’t fold, though. Their bowlers kept finding wickets at just the right moments to stay in the hunt, and their captain leaned on spin for the entire innings, something no other side had tried in this tournament so far. By the time the last over arrived, Legends still needed 8 to win.
Bhargab has the final word
Bikiran Das very nearly pulled off a heist with a brilliant final over for Braves. But Bhargab Pratim Lahkar had other ideas. Needing 5 off the last ball, he cleared the ropes for a six, dragging his side over the line with three wickets to spare in a finish that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Brief scores
Barak Legends beat Barpeta Braves by 3 wickets.
Barpeta Braves: 129/8 in 20 overs (Abhilash Maurya 47, Bikiran Das 29; Bhargab Pratim Lahkar 1/12, Rabi Chetry 1/13, Saurav Dey 1/12).
Barak Legends: 131/7 in 20 overs (Sibsankar Roy 41, Aman Singh 22; Arun Sonar 2/15, Bikiran Das 1/17).