Dehradun, 21 September 2024: In a thrilling double-header over two days, the Nainital SG Pipers triumphed over the Pithoragarh Hurricanes, securing a pivotal victory in the Uttarakhand Premier League eliminator on Saturday, September 21. This four-wicket win earned them a coveted spot in the final, set to unfold at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun on Sunday.

Nainital’s Bhanu Pratap Singh emerged as the Player of the Match, showcasing his all-round prowess with a remarkable performance. Singh claimed four wickets and was the top scorer for his team, amassing 40 crucial runs.

Chasing a target of 158, the Nainital SG Pipers began their innings with a steady start, accumulating 32 runs in the first four overs. However, Pithoragarh’s skipper and star pacer, Akash Madhwal, turned the tide in the next over. Madhwal’s brilliant spell saw him dismissing Avneesh Sudha (20) and Kartik Bhatt (4), placing early pressure on Nainital.

Despite these setbacks, Priyanshu Khanduri and Bhanu Pratap Singh adopted a cautious approach to stabilize the innings. By the end of the 10th over, they had guided their team to 82/2. However, Madhwal struck again at the start of the 11th over, removing Khanduri, who had scored a steady 26 runs off 26 balls.

Bhanu Pratap Singh, having excelled with the ball earlier, took charge with the bat. He led from the front, scoring an impressive 40 runs off 28 balls before being dismissed by Sunny Kashyap on the final ball of the 14th over.

The match saw dramatic twists as the Nainital SG Pipers lost two more wickets, causing momentum to swing back and forth. During this intense phase, Pithoragarh Hurricanes missed two critical opportunities: first, by dropping a catch, and then when Sunny Kashyap’s dismissal of Harsh Rana was nullified due to a no-ball.

With victory within reach, Harsh Rana (28* from 22 balls) and Arush Melkani (12* from 5 balls) accelerated their innings. They successfully chased down the target with 11 balls to spare, sealing a thrilling win for their team.

Earlier in the day, Pithoragarh Hurricanes were sent in to bat first under the pressure of securing a final spot. Their openers, Sanyam Arora and Aditya Naithani, started cautiously. They put up 24 runs in the initial three overs before Arora was bowled out by Nikhil Pundir for a run-a-ball 12.

Aditya Naithani stood firm at one end, skillfully maneuvering the ball into gaps. However, his partner Neeraj Rathour struggled to find form and was eventually dismissed in the ninth over after scoring just 8 runs off 19 balls.

Rathour’s dismissal triggered a batting collapse for Pithoragarh Hurricanes, who lost three more wickets within four overs. Among them was Aditya Naithani, who had contributed a well-fought 38 runs off 28 balls.

Hitesh Naula provided some resistance by striking Naveen Kumar Singh for a four and a six in the 14th over. However, Bhanu Pratap Singh’s brilliant bowling spell saw him dismissing Vishal Kashyap and Priyank Singh in quick succession, reducing Pithoragarh to 105/7.

A late surge came from Sunny Kashyap, who played a fiery cameo of 27 runs off just 11 balls. Hitesh Naula remained unbeaten with a crucial 34 runs off 22 balls, helping his team post a respectable total of 157/8.

Bhanu Pratap Singh’s outstanding bowling performance stood out for Nainital SG Pipers. He finished with impressive figures of 4 wickets for just 17 runs in his three overs.

The stage is now set for an exciting final where the Nainital SG Pipers will clash with the unbeaten USN Indians on Sunday, September 22.