Dehradun, Sep 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) – The USN Indians showcased their cricketing prowess in the Uttarakhand Premier League by securing their third consecutive victory, defeating the Nainital SG Pipers by eight wickets in a thrilling, high-scoring match held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. This remarkable win positions the USN Indians with a strong opportunity to advance to the finals.

In an electrifying Thursday double-header, Nainital SG Pipers’ opener Avneesh Sudha etched his name in the history books by becoming the first player to score a century in the tournament’s inaugural season. His unbeaten 118 off just 60 deliveries, featuring seven boundaries and eight towering sixes, was a masterclass in aggressive batting. However, despite Sudha’s heroic efforts, the USN Indians executed an even more formidable collective batting performance, disrupting the Pipers’ celebrations.

Chasing a formidable target of 211, USN Indians’ openers Aarav Mahajan and Yuvraj Chaudhary laid a solid foundation, propelling their team to 65 without loss by the end of the powerplay. The dynamic duo continued their onslaught, reaching 107/0 at the halfway mark with both batsmen achieving their individual half-centuries. Chaudhary’s explosive innings came to an end when Nikhil Pundir secured his wicket after a swashbuckling 64 from 32 balls, which included four boundaries and five sixes.

Pundir struck again, dismissing the well-set Mahajan for a blistering 81 off 47 balls, embellished with seven boundaries and four sixes. With 41 runs needed from the last four overs, Aryan Sharma and captain Akhil Rawat rose to the occasion. Sharma’s unbeaten 33 from 21 balls and Rawat’s fiery 35 from 17 balls steered the USN Indians to a spectacular win, setting a new tournament record with a team total of 216/2.

Earlier in the match, opting to bat first proved fruitful for the Nainital SG Pipers. Openers Priyanshu Khanduri and Avneesh Sudha provided a robust start. Sudha capitalized on the powerplay, racing to an unbeaten 48 off just 20 balls by the end of the sixth over. He reached his half-century in a mere 22 balls and continued to dominate, forming a strong partnership with Khanduri. By the end of the 10th over, they had propelled their team to 91 without loss.

Their partnership flourished, surpassing the 100-run mark at the beginning of the 12th over. Sudha reached his century in the 18th over, while Khanduri retired hurt on a commendable 77 after the same over. Despite losing Prateek Pandey cheaply, Sudha and Arush Melkani added 20 crucial runs in the final over, pushing their total to an imposing 210/2.

With this victory, the USN Indians climbed to the top of the standings table with six points from three games. Earlier in the day, in another exciting development, the Nainital SG Pipers’ women’s team clinched a spot in the final of their competition by defeating Mussoorie Thunders in their Women’s Uttarakhand Premier League game.