That's all from this one-sided contest, folks! For now, it's me, Deepak Prakash, signing off on behalf of scorer/analyst Bishal Mandal. CHEERS!
Player of the Match: Ishant Bhardwaj
2:09 PM IST, Local Time: Haryana outclassed Rajasthan by 7 wickets with 22 balls to spare, kicking off their Super League campaign in style.
Earlier, Haryana delivered a superb bowling performance to restrict Rajasthan to 132/8 on a pitch touted as a batting belter. Opting to bowl first paid off as they struck four times inside the powerplay, putting Rajasthan on the back foot early. Shubham Garhwal (33 off 27) and Mahipal Lomror (37* off 39) attempted to stabilise the innings, but regular wickets halted any momentum. Rahul Chaharās 20-run cameo at the end lifted Rajasthan to a modest total. Anshul Kamboj (2/24) and Ishant Bhardwaj (2/24) were the standout performers for Haryana, with Amit Rana and Samant Jakhar adding a wicket each. In reply, Arsh Ranga and Ankit Kumar came out all guns blazing, underlining why the wicket was labelled a batting paradise, with Ranga smashing 21 runs in the first over. He couldnāt convert his brisk start, falling for a 12-ball 27. Ankit shifted gears after the powerplay, relying on strike rotation and eventually reaching his fifty, before departing for 60 while attempting a glory shot. Parth Vats then anchored the chase with an unbeaten, composed 27 off 29, guiding Haryana home without fuss. Rajasthanās bowlers needed something special to defend a below-par total, but they couldnāt rise to the challenge. Akash Maharaj Singh, Ashok Sharma, and Rahul Chahar picked up a wicket each.
OVER 17
Haryana
133/3
Parth Vats
27(29)
Ashish Siwach
0(3)
Sahil Dhiwan
0-13(1.2)
16.3 S Dhiwan to P Vats
1nb Full-length on the stumps. Eases it down to long-on for one. The scores are level now. Oh Ho! The hotter buzzes, and it's a no-ball as the bowler has overstepped. So, it's a no-ball, and Haryana win by 7 wickets and 22 balls to spare.
16.2 S Dhiwan to P Vats
2 On a length at the stumps. Tucks across to mid-wicket for a double.
16.1 S Dhiwan to P Vats
0 Over the wicket. Fuller and around off. Punches it to mid-off.