Ranchi (IANS): The Chota Nagpur Royals defeated the Jamshedpur Steelers by seven wickets to claim the inaugural Jharkhand T20 Cricket League title in front of a packed, roaring crowd at the JSCA International Stadium Complex.
Despite a gritty effort from the Steelers, the Royals spectacularly turned the game on its head to crown themselves the league’s first-ever champions.
Rana’s Counter-Attack Revives Steelers
Batting first, the Jamshedpur Steelers posted a competitive 180/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Kumar Karan (28) and skipper Kumar Deobrat (39) built a steady 32-run opening stand before Karan’s dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse. The Royals’ bowlers rapidly dented the Steelers’ morale, reducing them to a precarious 90/5 in 11.5 overs.
Harsh Rana then completely shifted the momentum. Rana smashed a breathtaking, counter-attacking 64 off just 26 deliveries to power his side to a fighting total.
The Royals relied on a collective bowling effort to contain the Steelers, with five bowlers picking up one wicket apiece:
- Durgesh Kumar: 1-15
- Suprieyo Chakraborty: 1-19
- Chandan Kumar Mukhi: 1-23
- Vikash Singh: 1-37
- Rahul Rajak: 1-62
Kushagra and Dwivedi Dominate the Chase
Chasing 181, the Chota Nagpur Royals suffered an immediate setback when star skipper Virat Singh fell for just 1 run. MD Nazim Siddiqui quickly stabilized the innings, injecting early momentum with a fiery 38 off 24 balls.
Kumar Kushagra and Himanshu Dwivedi then took complete control of the grand stage. The dynamic duo unleashed a masterclass, putting together a match-winning 110-run partnership for the third wicket to snatch the game away from Jamshedpur.
Dwivedi anchored the chase brilliantly with a fine half-century (51 off 33 balls), while Kushagra remained a ruthless force, finishing unbeaten on a blistering 78 off just 39 deliveries.
The Royals effortlessly crossed the finish line in 17.2 overs, reaching 184/3 to seal a magnificent championship victory. For the Steelers, Aman Kumar Singh (2-24) and Anurag Singh Sengar (1-3) fought hard with the ball, but the Royals’ batting supremacy ultimately eclipsed their efforts.
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