Naman Dhir's Explosive 173 Leads Amritsar Soormas to Victory Over Mohali Kings
Soormas Dominate with Record Total
Naman Dhir showcased an incredible display of power hitting, scoring 173 runs off just 64 deliveries, which included 16 boundaries and 12 sixes. This performance propelled the Amritsar Soormas to a decisive 67-run victory against the Mohali Kings. The Soormas posted a total of 279/7, marking the highest score of the tournament thus far and the third instance this season where they surpassed the 250-run threshold.
On the bowling front, Shubham Rana (3 wickets for 30 runs), Jaipartap Singh (2 for 46), and Naman Dhir (2 for 8) delivered impressive spells to restrict the Kings effectively.
Dhir's Remarkable Innings
After the match, the Soormas accumulated six points from six games, as noted in a press release. Dhir expressed his excitement, stating, "It feels great. Now we are back in the tournament, and I believe we are hitting our stride at the right moment as a team. I focused on playing the ball as it came, and once I hit my first six, I was confident that if I batted through the innings, we would achieve a competitive total."
The Soormas, batting first, made a rapid start, reaching 75/2 by the end of the powerplay, with Dhir leading the charge. Filling in as captain for Abhishek Sharma, Dhir reached his half-century in just 19 balls and then accelerated further, scoring a century in 36 balls after targeting Lovedeep Chatha for 30 runs in the 12th over.
Dhir received support from Jashanpreet Singh, who scored 41 runs off 25 balls, as the duo formed a formidable 120-run partnership in just 51 balls. Following this, Dhir and Rahul added a quick 47 runs in 19 balls. Contributions from Abhishek Sharma (13 off 4) and Abhay Choudhary (20 off 10) helped the Soormas secure a formidable total. Aayush Goyal (4/43) eventually dismissed Dhir in the final over, but not before he set the record for the highest individual score of the season.
Kings Struggle in the Chase
In the second innings, Abhishek Sharma (1/38) struck early for the Soormas, dismissing Sagar Virk (1 off 2) in the first over. Anmolpreet Singh (52 off 25) and Jaskaranvir (76 off 41) responded with an 80-run partnership in 38 balls before Shubham Rana broke the momentum by taking out Anmolpreet in the 8th over, followed by the wickets of Ramandeep Singh and Sohraab Dhaliwal in the 10th over.
Jaipartap Singh also made an impact with the ball, claiming the key wicket of Jaskaranvir along with Aryan Bhatia (1 off 2) in quick succession, effectively sealing the Kings' fate.
As the innings drew to a close, Naman Dhir continued his excellent form by taking two wickets in two overs, leading the Kings to finish at 213/8. This victory marked the Soormas' second consecutive win and their third overall, as they gain momentum at a crucial point in the tournament.