Sports Desk: Shrachi Rarh Tigers stormed into the final of the Bengal T20 League after producing a dominant all-round performance against Novas Royals Purulia in the first semifinal at Eden Gardens on Friday. Led by Shahbaz Ahmed, the Tigers secured a convincing seven-wicket victory to book their place in the title clash.
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After winning the toss, Rarh skipper Shahbaz Ahmed elected to field first, a decision that paid immediate dividends. The Tigers’ disciplined bowling attack kept the Purulia batters under constant pressure, striking at regular intervals and never allowing them to build momentum.
আরও পড়ুন
Purulia’s innings revolved around a fighting knock from Lokesh, who scored 48 runs off 28 deliveries and provided the only significant resistance. Apart from him, none of the batters managed to convert their starts into meaningful contributions as wickets continued to tumble.
The star with the ball was Rohit Kumar, whose fiery spell dismantled the opposition batting line-up. He picked up four crucial wickets, while Shahbaz Ahmed and Sukhmeet Singh chipped in with two wickets each. As a result, Novas Royals Purulia were bundled out for just 107 runs in 18.2 overs.
Chasing a modest target of 108, Rarh Tigers approached the task with confidence and composure. The batters avoided unnecessary risks and steadily took control of the contest.
Sumanta Gupta played the anchor’s role brilliantly, remaining unbeaten on 47 from just 31 balls. His well-paced innings featured several elegant strokes and ensured there were no late hiccups in the chase. Captain Shahbaz Ahmed also contributed with a valuable 31 off 20 deliveries, putting the result beyond doubt.
Although Purulia’s bowlers managed to claim three wickets, they never looked capable of defending the total. Pritam Chakraborty, Lokesh and Rohit picked up a wicket each, but the target proved far too small.
Rarh Tigers eventually reached the target in just 12.1 overs, losing only three wickets and sealing victory with 47 balls to spare. The emphatic win highlighted the team’s balance and depth across all departments, making them strong contenders for the championship.
Rohit Kumar Named Player of the Match
After receiving the Player of the Match award, Rohit Kumar credited the entire team for the victory.
“I am extremely happy to receive this award, but this is not just my achievement. It is the result of a collective team effort. Before the match, our plan was to build pressure from the start and force the batters into making mistakes. Fortunately, the strategy worked perfectly.”
“The wicket offered some assistance, so I focused on bowling in the right areas and was lucky enough to pick up important wickets. Our fielders were outstanding as well. They grabbed some difficult chances, which helped us stay on top throughout the game.”
“The batters then finished the job brilliantly. Sumanta Gupta and Shahbaz bhai made the chase look easy with their excellent innings. Now our focus shifts to the final. We want to carry the same confidence and intensity into that match. Hopefully, we can make our supporters proud and finish the season by lifting the trophy.”
With momentum firmly on their side, Shrachi Rarh Tigers will now turn their attention to the final, where they will be aiming to cap off an impressive campaign with the Bengal T20 League title.
