Tezpur Titans produced a remarkable run chase to defeat Guwahati Royals by two wickets in a high-scoring Assam Premier League (APL) 2026 contest at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday. The Titans reached 203 for eight in 19.4 overs while chasing 201.
The result gave Tezpur Titans a much-needed victory after a difficult start to their campaign. They held their nerve in the final over to complete one of the most dramatic chases of the tournament so far.
Tezpur Titans complete tense chase
Guwahati Royals appeared to have set a challenging target after scoring 200 for four in their allotted 20 overs. However, Tezpur Titans responded with an aggressive batting display and reached the target with two balls remaining.
The Titans lost eight wickets during the chase, which kept the contest finely balanced until the closing deliveries. Moreover, their batting unit continued to attack despite regular setbacks.
Dibash Hazarika provided the foundation with a superb 73 from 42 balls. His innings included six fours and six sixes. Roshan Topno then added valuable momentum with 39 from 24 balls.
Guwahati Royals post imposing 200
Guwahati Royals made a strong start to the match after being asked to bat first. Sanjay Kumar Singh led the innings with an unbeaten 81 from 57 balls, striking four fours and six sixes.
Gunjan Jyoti Deka also played an important role, making 41 from 27 balls before being run out. Meanwhile, Nipan Deka delivered a remarkable late surge.
Nipan remained unbeaten on 43 from only 10 deliveries. His innings contained one four and six sixes, giving the Royals a powerful finish. In fact, the late acceleration pushed Guwahati to exactly 200 for four.
Royals find momentum late
The Royals had lost Rohit Sen and Rishav Das during the powerplay. Nibir Deka was also dismissed after making 22 from 13 balls.
However, Sanjay Kumar Singh and Gunjan Jyoti Deka steadied the innings before Nipan Deka transformed the final stages. As a result, Guwahati Royals finished with a total that looked difficult to chase.
Wasim Akram Haque was the most successful Titans bowler, taking two wickets for 39 runs. Danish Ahmed claimed one wicket while the Royals also lost one batter through a run-out.
Tezpur Titans stay alive under pressure
The chase did not begin smoothly for Tezpur Titans. Wasim Akram Haque was dismissed early, putting pressure on the batting side.
However, Hazarika and Nihar Deka rebuilt the innings and kept the required rate within reach. Nihar contributed 25 before departing, while Topno’s 39 further strengthened the chase.
The match then shifted again as wickets fell. Bastab Roy became a major threat for Guwahati Royals, finishing with three wickets for 33 runs.
Despite those setbacks, Tezpur Titans refused to let the required rate get away. Their middle and lower order continued to find boundaries when they mattered most.
Malakar delivers a powerful late assault
Captain Ayushman Malakar then produced the innings-changing contribution. He smashed 41 from just 18 balls, including four sixes, to keep Tezpur Titans within touching distance of victory.
His aggressive strokeplay changed the momentum again. Nevertheless, the Titans suffered further drama when Malakar and Abhinav Chowdhary were dismissed during the closing stages.
With the target almost within reach, Prachurya Kataki kept his composure. He remained unbeaten on seven from only two balls and helped Tezpur Titans cross the line at 203 for eight in 19.4 overs.
Tezpur Titans gain crucial APL momentum
The victory was particularly important for Tezpur Titans after their earlier struggles in the inaugural APL season. The franchise entered the competition as one of eight teams in the 43-match tournament, which runs from August 1 to August 23.
The APL features 40 league matches, two semi-finals and the final. Each team plays 10 league matches, with the top four advancing to the knockout stage.
For Tezpur Titans, the two-wicket victory can therefore provide valuable confidence as the league phase progresses. More importantly, the successful chase showed that the side can handle pressure against a strong total.
Guwahati Royals, meanwhile, will take encouragement from their batting performance despite the defeat. Overall, the contest highlighted the competitive nature of the inaugural Assam Premier League and produced a memorable finish in Guwahati.
