Haryana and Jharkhand Set for Thrilling Final After Dominant Performances
Haryana Secures Spot in Final with Convincing Victory
Haryana clinched a significant victory over Hyderabad, propelled by impressive fifties from captain Ankit Kumar and Samant Jakhar, along with strong bowling displays from Amit Rana and Anshul Kamboj. This win ensures Haryana's place in the title match against a formidable Jharkhand team scheduled for Thursday. With this result, Haryana has reinforced its lead in Group A, achieving two wins and one loss, while Hyderabad has fallen to second place due to a lower net run rate. After winning the toss, Hyderabad chose to bowl first. Ankit Kumar scored 57 runs off 27 balls, including a four and six sixes, while Samant Jakhar contributed 60 runs off just 22 balls, hitting a four and eight sixes. Parth Vats also made a notable contribution with 45 runs off 19 balls, leading Haryana to a total of 246/7. For Hyderabad, T Thyagarajan (2/43) and Ajay Dev Goud (2/66) were the standout bowlers. In their chase, only Rahul Buddhi managed to score above 20 runs, finishing with 37 runs off 24 balls, as Hyderabad was bowled out for 122 in 16.1 overs. Amit Rana (3/14), Kamboj (2/16), and Jakhar (2/16) were the key bowlers for Haryana.
Jharkhand Advances to Final Despite Setback Against Andhra
In an earlier match, Andhra Pradesh, led by Nitish Kumar Reddy's all-round performance, secured a narrow nine-run victory over Jharkhand in a Super League Group A encounter. Reddy was awarded Player of the Match for his contributions. This win ended Jharkhand's impressive nine-match winning streak, but they still progressed to the finals, finishing atop Group B with a better net run rate than Andhra Pradesh. Batting first, Andhra posted 203/7, with Srikar Bharat scoring 35 runs off 19 balls and Ashwin Hebbar adding 30 runs off 18 balls, forming a solid opening partnership. Nitish Reddy's explosive 45 runs off 22 balls, featuring six fours and two sixes, bolstered the total. Jharkhand's Rajandeep Singh (2/35) and Anukul Roy (2/30) were among the wicket-takers. In response, Jharkhand's Captain Ishan Kishan scored 35 runs off 18 balls, while Virat Singh led the charge with 77 runs off 40 balls, but they fell short, finishing at 194/8.
Mumbai Triumphs in High-Scoring Encounter Against Rajasthan
Mumbai emerged victorious in a thrilling high-scoring match against Rajasthan, winning by three wickets at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Rajasthan set a challenging target, scoring 216/4 in their 20 overs, with Deepak Hooda (51 off 31 balls) and Mukul Choudhary (54* off 28 balls) both hitting half-centuries. Mumbai's bowlers included captain Shardul Thakur (1/43) and Tushar Deshpande (1/54). In their chase, Ajinkya Rahane (72 off 41 balls) and Sarfaraz Khan (73 off 22 balls) played pivotal roles, helping Mumbai reach the target in just 18.1 overs. Sarfaraz Khan's outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match title.
Punjab Ends Winless Streak with Last-Over Victory
Punjab concluded their winless run in the Super League stage with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Madhya Pradesh. Chasing a daunting target of 226, Punjab's success was driven by stellar performances from Harnoor Singh, Salil Arora, and Ramandeep Singh, who sealed the win in the final over. Madhya Pradesh batted first, scoring 225 for 8, with Venkatesh Iyer leading the charge with a brisk 70 runs off 43 balls. Punjab's bowlers included Gurnoor Brar (3-45) and Ramandeep Singh (2-38). In response, Harnoor Singh provided a strong start with 64 runs off 36 balls, while Salil Arora contributed a crucial 50 runs off 29 balls. Ramandeep Singh's explosive 35 runs off 21 balls, including a six in the final over, clinched the victory for Punjab, earning him the Player of the Match award.