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USN Indians Hold Nerve to Edge Haridwar Spring Elmas by a Single Run in Thrilling Patanjali Uttarakhand Premier League 2024 Encounter
The Patanjali Uttarakhand Premier League 2024 witnessed yet another nail-biting finish as USN Indians narrowly defeated Haridwar Spring Elmas by one run (via the DLS method) in a rain-hit Match 7 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun, on Wednesday, September 18.
In a match hampered by weather interruptions, the overs were initially reduced to 16 per side before further rain delays resulted in a final reduction to just 11 overs each. USN Indians posted a competitive 125/6, setting Haridwar Spring Elmas a revised target of 130 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. Despite a valiant effort led by Girish Raturi, the Spring Elmas fell just one run short in a pulsating encounter.
USN Indians Post a Challenging Total Despite Rain Disruptions
After the match was delayed due to rain, the USN Indians wasted no time in seizing the advantage during the powerplay. Left-handed batter Yuvraj Chaudhary was in scintillating form, tearing into the Haridwar bowlers with ease. The second over, bowled by Prashant Bhati, was particularly expensive as Chaudhary plundered 20 runs off it.
Although opener Aarav Mahajan (11 off 7) began aggressively, his innings was cut short. Rain interrupted play again, further reducing the match to 11 overs per side. Stand-in skipper Akhil Rawat (13 off 6) played a crucial cameo to keep the momentum going as wickets fell around him. However, the innings belonged to Chaudhary, who remained unbeaten on 74 from just 33 balls, hammering six sixes. With a strike rate of 224.2, Chaudhary’s knock powered the USN Indians to a formidable 125/6.
Haridwar Spring Elmas Fight Back in the Chase
Chasing a revised target of 130 in 11 overs, Haridwar Spring Elmas endured an early setback as Agrim Tiwari struck twice in the second over. The pressure intensified when captain Ravikumar Samarth (5 off 5) was dismissed at the beginning of the third over, leaving the Elmas reeling.
However, middle-order batters Shashwat Dangwal (20 off 10) and Saurabh Rawat (16 off 10) counterattacked, adding quick runs to keep the chase alive. By the end of the fifth over, the Spring Elmas had reached 60/3, but a double strike from Prashant Chauhan (2/19 off two overs) pegged them back once more.
Girish Raturi’s Heroics Fall Short
Just when the game seemed to be slipping away, Girish Raturi took center stage. His unbeaten 35 off 19 balls, supported by Kunal Veer Singh’s 23 off 8, brought the Spring Elmas back into the contest. Raturi unleashed a flurry of sixes, including four off the 10th over bowled by Agrim Tiwari, reducing the equation to just 10 runs required from the final over.
Despite Raturi’s heroics, USN Indians’ Devendra Bora held his nerve in the final over, bowling pinpoint yorkers and slower balls to perfection. With three runs needed off the final ball, Prashant Bhati was unable to capitalize on a low full toss, and the Spring Elmas fell agonizingly short by just one run.
The win propelled the USN Indians to the top of the points table with two victories from two matches. Haridwar Spring Elmas, having completed their round-robin games, must now rely on other results to secure a spot in the Eliminator.
Match Summary:
- USN Indians: 125/6 in 11 overs (Yuvraj Chaudhary 74* off 33, Akhil Rawat 13 off 6, Sparsh Joshi 2/26 off 2 overs)
- Haridwar Spring Elmas: 128/7 in 11 overs (Girish Raturi 35* off 19, Kunal Veer Singh 23 off 8, Prashant Chauhan 2/19 off 2 overs)
- Result: USN Indians won by 1 run (DLS)
