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Vijay Sharma’s Heroics Lead Pithoragarh Hurricanes to a Dramatic Last-Ball Win Over Dehradun Warriors in Rain-Affected Thriller
In a gripping encounter during Match 6 of the Patanjali Uttarakhand Premier League 2024, Vijay Sharma delivered an exceptional performance, scoring an unbeaten 50 off just 23 balls to steer the Pithoragarh Hurricanes to a thrilling last-ball victory over the Dehradun Warriors. The match, held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, September 18, was shortened to 12 overs per side due to persistent rain, making the contest even more exciting.
The Dehradun Warriors, asked to bat first, posted a challenging 103/6 in their 12 overs. Their innings was built on solid contributions from Vaibhav Bhatt (27 off 23 balls) and Aanjaneya Suryavanshi (25 off 22 balls), who put together a 40-run partnership. Hurricanes captain Akash Madhwal struggled with his bowling, conceding 30 runs in his three overs without taking a wicket. However, Sunny Kashyap (2/15 off 2 overs) managed to keep the Warriors in check by picking up crucial wickets, including both Bhatt and Suryavanshi.
Hurricanes Face Early Setbacks
Chasing 104 for victory, the Pithoragarh Hurricanes got off to a shaky start, losing two wickets for just 10 runs within the first four overs. Deepak Kumar’s (2/4 off 2 overs) tight bowling put the Hurricanes under immense pressure, and the team struggled to get going as they were reduced to 10/2. Kumar claimed the scalps of Vishal Kashyap (1 off 5) and Hitesh Naula (2 off 10), putting the Hurricanes in a precarious position.
However, a determined partnership between the in-form Neeraj Rathour (28 off 24) and Vijay Sharma turned the tide for the Hurricanes. Vijay made his intentions clear from the outset, smashing a six off Rakshit Rohi and following it up with a boundary. Rathour, who took some time to settle, finally found his rhythm and took 15 runs off a Dikshanshu Negi over, putting the Hurricanes back in the hunt. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, Rathour was run out by a brilliant direct hit from substitute fielder Ashar Khan, once again swinging the momentum in favor of the Warriors.
Vijay Sharma’s Stunning Finish
As the match headed into the final overs, the Hurricanes needed 43 runs off the last 18 balls. Parmendar Chaddha (20* off 10) played a crucial role, hitting two consecutive sixes off Himanshu Bisht in the tenth over, significantly reducing the equation. Vijay Sharma then took charge, smashing Satyam Baaliyan in the penultimate over to bring the target down to just eight runs from the final over.
Abhay Negi held his nerve throughout the last over, but with two runs needed off the final ball, Vijay launched a perfectly placed delivery over long-on for six, sealing a stunning seven-wicket victory for the Pithoragarh Hurricanes.
Warriors’ Inconsistent Performance Continues
Earlier in the day, the match start was delayed due to persistent rain, which also caused the women’s event opener to be abandoned. When play finally began, the Dehradun Warriors’ in-form batter Sanskar Rawat (1 off 3) was dismissed early by Priyank Singh (1/18 off 3 overs), setting the tone for a competitive match. Vaibhav Bhatt and Aanjaneya Suryavanshi stabilized the Warriors’ innings before their dismissals to Sunny Kashyap. Late cameos from Aditya Tare (12 off 8), Dikshanshu Negi (16 off 8), and Rakshit Rohi (14* off 7) propelled the Warriors to a respectable total, but it ultimately proved insufficient.
With this defeat, the Warriors have now lost two of their three matches and face a must-win situation in their final group-stage game against the USN Indians to stay in the competition.
