In a gripping encounter at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on Saturday, Maharashtra pulled off a gritty three-wicket victory against Uttar Pradesh in the Elite group of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament. Chasing a modest target of 131, Maharashtra reached 131 for 7 with one over to spare, thanks to crucial contributions from their lower-order batsmen.
UP's Batting Collapse and Recovery
Opting to bat first, Uttar Pradesh's decision backfired spectacularly as their top order crumbled. They found themselves in deep trouble at 38 for 4 in just 9.3 overs. Openers Madhav Kaushik (0) and Siddharth Yadav (8) fell cheaply, followed by Karan Sharma (0) and wicketkeeper Aryan Juyal (17).
The innings was resurrected by two vital middle-order partnerships. Captain Sameer Rizvi (20 off 29 balls) added 37 runs with the explosive Rinku Singh. After Rizvi's dismissal, Rinku combined with Prashant Veer in a blistering 45-run stand off just 25 deliveries. Rinku Singh was the top scorer with a brisk 45 off 29 balls, hitting six fours and a six before being dismissed by Rajvardhan Hangargekar. Prashant Veer remained unbeaten on a valiant 22 off 14 balls as the tail collapsed around him, limiting UP to 130 for 9.
For Maharashtra, medium pacer Rajvardhan Hangargekar was the standout bowler, delivering a magnificent spell of 3 wickets for just 10 runs. He was well-supported by Jalaj Saxena, T.H. Sanghvi, and P.H. Solanki, who picked up two wickets each.
Maharashtra's Chase: A Rollercoaster Ride
Maharashtra's chase began confidently with an opening partnership of 53 runs between skipper Prithvi Shaw (28) and young Arshin Kulkarni (23). However, both openers fell at the same score, triggering a mini-collapse. The middle order stuttered, and Maharashtra slipped from a comfortable position to 82 for 4 with the dismissals of Jalaj Saxena (7) and Sahil Parakh (13).
A steadying 32-run partnership between Niraj Joshi and R.R. Nikam seemed to have put Maharashtra back on track. But UP bowlers Vipraj Nigam and veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck back, removing Joshi, Nikam, and NS Naik in quick succession. This left Maharashtra in a precarious situation at 117 for 7, needing 14 runs from the final 13 balls.
The Lower-Order Heroics
With the match hanging in the balance, the young duo of Vicky Ostwal and T.H. Sanghvi held their nerve. Displaying remarkable composure, they scored the required 14 runs in just 11 deliveries to seal a hard-fought victory for Maharashtra with an over to spare.
For Uttar Pradesh, the bowling highlights came from Kartik Tyagi, who claimed three wickets, and Vipraj Nigam, who picked up two. However, their efforts were not enough to defend the below-par total.
Tournament Implications
This defeat marks Uttar Pradesh's third loss in the tournament, severely denting their chances of progressing to the knockout stages. For Maharashtra, this win, built on collective resilience, provides a significant boost to their campaign in the national T20 championship.
Brief Scores:
Uttar Pradesh: 130/9 in 20 overs (Rinku Singh 45, Prashant Veer 22*; Rajvardhan Hangargekar 3/10, Jalaj Saxena 2/19).
Maharashtra: 131/7 in 19 overs (Prithvi Shaw 28, Arshin Kulkarni 23; Kartik Tyagi 3/34, Vipraj Nigam 2/27).
Result: Maharashtra won by 3 wickets.
