Aaron George powers Ranga Reddy Risers into TG20 League playoffs

Ranga Reddy Risers defeated Warangal Warriors by 161 runs in the final league-stage match of the TG20 League to secure a playoff berth. Aaron George starred with 91, while Nitin Sai Yadav and Hitesh Yadav led the bowling effort to eliminate Anurag Nalgonda Knights

Hyderabad: Ranga Reddy Risers scored a commanding 161-run victory over Warangal Warriors in the final league-stage game of the season to make it to the play-offs in the TG20 League cricket championship at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Tuesday night.

Needing to win by at least 130 runs to overhaul Anurag Nalgonda Knights on net run rate, the Risers did even better, setting up an Eliminator clash against EIPL & Eleve Karimnagar Diamonds on Thursday, July 9, while bringing the Knights’ campaign to an end.

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Risers recovered from 2/1 to post a mammoth 252/6, courtesy of a record-equalling 163-run third-wicket partnership between Aaron George (91 off 43) and Aditya Javvaji (77 off 36), the joint-highest partnership of the season. Venkat Karthik’s unbeaten 51 off 26 provided the finishing flourish before stand-in skipper Nitin Sai Yadav (3/10) and Hitesh Yadav (3/18) spearheaded a ruthless bowling display that bundled out Warangal Warriors for just 91 in 12.3 overs to complete a memorable qualification. For the Warangal Warriors, Salman Khan’s 5/44 was the first five-wicket haul in the tournament’s history.

The playoffs begin on Thursday, July 9, with the Eliminator between Ranga Reddy Risers and EIPL & Eleve Karimnagar Diamonds, followed by Qualifier 1 between unbeaten Hyderabad E-Champions and Anvita Khammam Aces. Qualifier 2 will be played on Friday, July 10, with the winner advancing to face the Qualifier 1 winner in the final on Sunday, July 12.

Aaron joined the party by smashing a six off Sunkari Dheeraj as Risers surged to 163/2 after 12 overs. However, Salman Khan briefly pulled things back for the opposition by dismissing Aditya and Gnana Prakash Reddy (2 off 2) in the same over, reducing the Risers to 167/4.

Aaron continued to anchor the innings before falling for a superb 91, while S Venkat Karthik (51 not out off 26) ensured the momentum never dipped. Venkat hammered Sunkari Dheeraj for two sixes and a four in the 16th over before adding another six in the next over.

With a steep target to chase, Warangal Warriors suffered an early setback when Rishiket Sisodia (8 off 4) fell in the opening over.

With the required rate climbing rapidly, the Warriors’ lower order failed to mount any resistance against the disciplined Risers attack. Nitin returned to bowl a miserly spell, while Adi Mani Kiran (7 off 11) was clean bowled after Sunkari Dheeraj (1 off 1) was run out.

The scores: Ranga Reddy Risers 252/6 in 20 overs (Aaron George 91, Aditya Javvaji 77, S Venkat Karthik 51 n.o., C Hitesh Yadav 23 n.o., Salman Khan 5/44, Mudassar Hussain 1/39) bt Warangal Warriors 91 in 12.3 overs (Aman Rao Perala 31, Harshit Choudhary 15, Nitin Sai Yadav 3/10, Hitesh Yadav 3/18).

Player of the match: Aaron George.