Punjab’s top three batsmen were in scorching form, swiftly dismantling Arunachal Pradesh’s modest total of 116/5 in just nine overs to further solidify their position at the top of the table with a sixth consecutive win this season. Abhishek Sharma’s quick cameo of 23 off 11 balls was cut short, but the 73-run opening partnership was dominated by Prabhsimran Singh, who smashed four sixes and five boundaries in his unbeaten 50 from 29 deliveries. The standout performance, however, came from Ramandeep Singh, who launched a barrage of sixes, hitting five of them in his unbeaten 42 off just 12 balls, helping Punjab achieve victory in a mere 8.4 overs, also significantly boosting their Net Run Rate (NRR).
Tushar Deshpande’s hat-trick laid the foundation for Mumbai’s commanding NRR boost, while Yashasvi Jaiswal’s undefeated 46 from 22 balls further enhanced their NRR as they effortlessly chased down a meager target of 77 in just six overs. This victory secured Mumbai’s spot at the top of the table and a direct entry into the knockout stage, edging past Hyderabad with a superior NRR despite having the same points.
Riyan Parag played a crucial role in Assam’s narrow victory over Kerala, who suffered their only defeat in the group stages during the last round. Parag’s unbeaten 57 from 33 balls, featuring six sixes, helped Assam clinch the win by two wickets, though their third-place finish ultimately limited the significance of the victory.
Nikhil Gangta’s explosive innings of an unbeaten 73 off 30 balls propelled Himachal Pradesh to second place in the Group B standings, offering them a chance in the pre-quarters. Gangta smashed six sixes and four boundaries, complementing opener Prashant Chopra’s quickfire 66 from 47 balls to set up HP’s imposing total of 234/4.
Gujarat secured a six-wicket victory over Manipur, with Saurav Chauhan’s rapid 50 from 28 balls and Chirag Gandhi’s aggressive 48 not out from 19 balls providing the highlights of their successful run chase. However, their win wasn’t enough to secure a top-two spot.
In Jammu and Kashmir’s triumph, skipper Shubham Khajuria’s explosive 73 from 46 balls, accompanied by Qamran Iqbal’s brisk 50 from 24 balls, established a formidable total of 185 for their opponents. Although Iqbal fell after leading the charge in the opening partnership of 66, Khajuria batted through until the 19th over, contributing significantly to their commanding score, though it wasn’t enough to secure a knockout spot.
Saurashtra achieved a four-wicket victory over Goa, with Harvik Desai’s aggressive 61 leading the way. Desai struck eight fours and two sixes in his 39-ball innings, making a significant impact during the Powerplay to pave the way for their victory.
Avneesh Sudha’s unbeaten 72 propelled Uttarakhand to a resounding nine-wicket victory over Puducherry. Sudha was in control throughout the 64-run opening partnership with Yuvraj Chaudhary, smashing three sixes in his unbeaten 53-ball knock, ensuring his team reached the target in the 17th over.
Rajat Patidar’s 68 played a crucial role in Madhya Pradesh’s four-wicket victory over Uttar Pradesh. However, the win couldn’t provide the NRR boost needed to surpass Uttar Pradesh in the points table, making it unlikely for either team to advance to the knockouts.
Mahipal Lomror’s explosive half-century from 23 balls was instrumental in Rajasthan’s emphatic 53-run victory to conclude their season on a positive note. Lomror hammered three sixes and as many boundaries, elevating his team’s scoring during the death overs and guiding them to a formidable total of 181/4 in their 20 overs.
In the bowling department:
Tushar Deshpande was the standout performer for Mumbai, capturing four wickets for just 13 runs and securing a hat-trick in his very first over, significantly contributing to Mizoram’s dismissal for a meager 76.
Captain Chintan Gaja (3-23) and Arzan Nagwaswalla (3-18) played pivotal roles in a late collapse of Manipur’s innings, helping Gujarat to a convincing six-wicket win. Despite Manipur’s strong start at 94/1 in the 12th over, they tumbled to 137 all out inside 18 overs.
Rasikh Dar Salam starred for Jammu and Kashmir with a remarkable performance, claiming six wickets for 31 runs. He struck twice in the powerplay and added four more wickets in the death overs, contributing to a 35-run victory over Chhattisgarh.
Qualified teams for the quarterfinals include the five group winners: Mumbai, Kerala, Punjab, Vidarbha, and Delhi. The six teams advancing to the pre-quarters are Baroda, Himachal Pradesh, Saurashtra, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Hyderabad (the best third-placed team).
- Editor
- October 28, 2023
- 5:10 pm
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