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USN Indians Claim Top Spot and Final Berth with Thrilling Victory Over Dehradun Warriors
The USN Indians secured their place in the final of the Patanjali Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) after achieving a narrow 5-run victory over Dehradun Warriors in a tense clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Friday, September 20. With this being their fourth consecutive win in the round-robin phase, the USN Indians are now poised to play the final on Sunday. Meanwhile, Dehradun Warriors’ fate is uncertain, relying on the result of other matches to determine their qualification for the Eliminator.
USN Indians Set the Stage with a Massive Total
After being asked to bat first, USN Indians continued their stellar form by posting an impressive total of 213 runs. Opener Yuvraj Chaudhary (78 off 47 balls) played a crucial knock, guiding his team to a strong start. Alongside him, Aarav Mahajan (45 off 27 balls) provided solid support, as the duo put up a 110-run opening stand by the end of the 10th over. The powerplay was dominated by quick boundaries, with both openers launching the ball all over the ground. However, Satyam Baaliyan (3/48 off four overs) delivered a key breakthrough by dismissing Mahajan, trapping him LBW.
Despite the middle order’s struggle to keep up with the rapid scoring pace, Chaudhary maintained his attacking approach. Abhinav Sharma (21 off 18) and Aryan Sharma (17 off 12) contributed but couldn’t accelerate further. Captain Akhil Rawat then played a quickfire innings of 36 off just 12 balls, smashing four sixes in his explosive cameo to propel the USN Indians past the 200-mark. Baaliyan closed the innings with a team hat-trick, including a run-out, but the USN Indians finished strongly with 213/7.
Sanskar Rawat Shines in Warriors’ Chase
In pursuit of 214, Dehradun Warriors started shakily, with opener Vaibhav Bhatt falling for a duck. However, Sanskar Rawat (80 off 41 balls) rose to the occasion with an exceptional display of hitting. His aggressive stroke play kept the Warriors’ chase alive despite wickets falling at the other end. Skipper Aditya Tare promoted himself to number 3 and made a quick contribution (21 off 13), but both he and Rakshit Rohi fell cheaply.
Sanskar, unfazed by the early setbacks, reached his second half-century of the season and was involved in a vital 58-run partnership with Sagar Rawat (24 off 16 balls), bringing the Warriors to 117/3 at the halfway mark. But USN’s Prashant Chauhan turned the match around, dismissing both Sagar and Sanskar, with Sanskar caught at long-on after a majestic innings of 80.
Late Heroics Fall Short for the Warriors
The lower order, led by Dikshanshu Negi (37 off 21) and Aanjaneya Suryavanshi (20* off 14), kept Dehradun Warriors in the contest, with the game finely balanced until the final over. Devendra Bora (3/32 off four overs) was instrumental for the USN Indians, bowling a tight spell at the death. His 17th and 19th overs allowed only 14 runs and secured crucial wickets. With 17 needed off the final over, the Warriors fell just short, despite a six off the last ball, losing by a margin of 5 runs.
Warriors’ Playoff Fate Hangs in the Balance
With the win, the USN Indians secured a direct berth in the final, while Dehradun Warriors now await the result of the match between Pithoragarh Hurricanes and Nainital SG Pipers. Should the Hurricanes defeat the Pipers, the Warriors will get a chance in the Eliminator. Otherwise, the Pipers will advance to the knockout stage.
Match Summary
Scores:
- USN Indians 213/7 in 20 overs (Yuvraj Chaudhary 78 off 47, Aarav Mahajan 45 off 27, Satyam Baaliyan 3/48)
- Dehradun Warriors 208/8 in 20 overs (Sanskar Rawat 80 off 41, Dikshanshu Negi 37 off 21, Devendra Bora 3/32)
Key Highlights of the Match:
- USN Indians’ consistent performances earned them a spot in the final.
- Sanskar Rawat’s blistering 80 kept the Warriors in the hunt till the very end.
- Devendra Bora’s excellent death bowling sealed the game for USN Indians.
