Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals Secure Spot in T20 Mumbai League Final
Maratha Royals Triumph Over Eagle Thane Strikers
Mumbai, Maharashtra - June 10: A stellar performance by captain Siddesh Lad, who scored an unbeaten half-century, alongside a remarkable five-wicket haul from pacer Rohan Raje, led the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals to an impressive 8-wicket victory against the Eagle Thane Strikers at Wankhede Stadium, securing their place in the T20 Mumbai League 2025 final.
The pitch provided excellent movement and bounce, which Raje capitalized on effectively, achieving figures of 5/40. This marked the first five-wicket haul of the season and only the fourth in the tournament's history, as he dismantled the Strikers' batting lineup, limiting them to a mere 131 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Strikers faced difficulties in building momentum. Raje, along with left-arm spinner Aditya Dhumal, wreaked havoc on the top and middle order, leaving the Strikers at 57/4 within the first 10 overs.
Despite a brief recovery from Sairaj Patil (41) and captain Atharva Ankolekar (34 not out), who added 43 runs together, Raje's return to the attack proved decisive as he quickly dismissed Patil, Vinay Kunwar, and Shashank Attarde, completing his five-wicket haul.
In pursuit of 132 runs, the Royals began cautiously. An early wicket fell when Sahil Jadhav was bowled by a Patil inswinger. However, Lad steadied the innings, forming a 48-run partnership with Chinmay Sutar (19), who was dismissed while attempting a big shot off Attarde.
Remaining composed, Lad continued to anchor the innings alongside Sachin Yadav (19 not out), and together they added an unbroken 55-run partnership, finishing the chase with 13 balls to spare. Lad concluded the match with an impressive 74 runs off 52 balls, including nine boundaries and a six, sealing the victory with a well-placed drive through the off-side.
This victory propels the Maratha Royals into the final, showcasing a well-rounded performance led by their captain and star bowler.
The final match is scheduled to take place at the renowned Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on June 12.
Brief Scores: Eagle Thane Strikers: 131/8 (Sairaj Patil 41, Atharva Ankolekar 34; Rohan Raje 5/40) lost to MSC Maratha Royals: 134/2 (Siddesh Lad 74 not out) by 8 wickets.