Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 16 (ANI): The 2024 Uttarakhand Premier League commenced with a bang as the Spring Elmas clinched a thrilling four-wicket victory over the Warriors in the tournament opener held in Dehradun. The highlight of the match was an extraordinary performance by Saurabh Rawat, marking the inaugural game of the Uttarakhand Premier League as a memorable event.

Chasing a challenging target of 177, the Haridwar-based Spring Elmas faced early setbacks and were precariously positioned at 40/5 by the seventh over, seemingly on the brink of defeat. However, Saurabh Rawat orchestrated a remarkable turnaround with an unbeaten 97 off 49 balls, leaving spectators astonished by his prowess.

Saurabh’s electrifying innings, adorned with 11 fours and 4 sixes, showcased a masterful blend of power hitting and tactical precision, revitalizing his team’s chances.

Initially, Spring Elmas’ chase was disrupted by Deepak Kumar’s impactful over, where he claimed two crucial wickets. Abhay Negi further compounded their woes with another double-wicket burst. By the end of the Powerplay, the scoreboard read a dismal 39/4, and with another wicket falling at the start of the seventh over due to Negi’s sharp bowling, the team appeared to be in dire straits.

Nevertheless, Saurabh Rawat, batting at No.5, found an able partner in No.7 batsman Saurav Chauhan. Together, they stitched an invaluable 81-run partnership that stabilized the innings. While Chauhan played a steady hand, Rawat unleashed a flurry of aggressive strokes, keeping the scoreboard ticking.

The game witnessed another twist when Chauhan was dismissed for a patient 28-ball 26 in the 17th over, leaving Spring Elmas needing 56 runs from just 22 deliveries.

At this crucial juncture, Girish Rauturi joined Saurabh Rawat at the crease. Rauturi instantly made his presence felt by hitting a boundary off his first ball. The duo maintained their composure and executed their shots with precision, ultimately guiding Spring Elmas to a dramatic and unforgettable victory.

Earlier in the match, Haridwar Spring Elmas’ captain, Ravikumar Samarth, opted to bowl first, a decision that bore fruit with two early wickets. Left-arm pacer Prashant Bhati delivered the first breakthrough by bowling Warriors’ opener Vaibhav Bhatt for a three-ball duck. This was followed by Girish Rauturi sending No.3 batsman Aanjaneya Suryavanshi back to the pavilion without scoring.

With Warriors’ score reading 13/2 after just two overs, opener Sanskar Rawat took charge and counter-attacked by hitting three consecutive fours off Rauturi, shifting the momentum in his team’s favor. Sanskar’s aggressive approach yielded a rapid 18-ball 36, propelling the team to 58/2 by the end of the Powerplay.

However, the introduction of spin in the seventh over proved decisive as left-arm spinner Harman Singh scalped the crucial wicket of Sanskar Rawat (37 off 21 balls), arresting Warriors’ progress.

Warriors’ captain Aditya Tare, leveraging his vast experience, anchored one end but struggled to build significant partnerships amidst regular fall of wickets. Despite these challenges, Tare played a composed yet powerful innings and found late support from No.9 batsman Himanshu Bisht. Their unbroken stand added 40 runs in the final 2.4 overs, lifting their team to a competitive total.

Aditya Tare top-scored with an explosive 73* off 41 balls, featuring four boundaries and five towering sixes. On the bowling front for Spring Elmas, Girish Rauturi emerged as the standout performer with impressive figures of 3 for 31.

Looking ahead to Monday’s double-header fixtures, Haridwar Spring Elmas will take on Pithoragarh Hurricanes at 3 PM IST. Meanwhile, Dehradun Warriors will seek to bounce back when they face Nainital SG Pipers at 7:30 PM IST. (ANI)