Himateja Kodimela powers Anvita Khammam Aces to 34-run win over Nalgonda Knights

Skipper Himateja Kodimela struck an unbeaten 80 and G Sai Krishna Reddy added a fluent fifty as Anvita Khammam Aces posted 211 for 2 before defeating Anurag Nalgonda Knights by 34 runs to climb back into the TG20 League playoff spots

Hyderabad: Anvita Khammam Aces rode on a breathtaking unbeaten 80 from skipper Himateja Kodimela and a fluent half-century from G Sai Krishna Reddy to post a daunting 211/2 in their 20 overs. Ved Reddy and Wafi Kachchhi then led a disciplined bowling effort as the Aces defeated Anurag Nalgonda Knights by 34 runs in the Sreenidhi University TG20 league match at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Wednesday.

The win moved them back into the playoff spots, above EIPL & Eleve Karimnagar Diamonds to fourth on the points table. Meanwhile, the Knights slipped to third by virtue of a lower Net Run Rate than Ranga Reddy Risers.

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Himateja’s unbeaten 80 moved him to second in the Orange Cap standings with 282 runs to his name, while 16-year-old Ved is now second in the Purple Cap standings, having scalped nine wickets.

Aces made a solid start through Paras Raj and Wafi Kachchhi (14 off 19), helped by a wayward opening over to reach 51 without loss at the end of the powerplay. Paras led the charge with a flurry of boundaries and a six, while Wafi played the supporting role as the pair stitched together a brisk 53-run opening stand.

With Sai Krishna providing the perfect foil, Himateja unleashed an attacking display in the death overs as the duo plundered boundaries and sixes at will. Their partnership ensured that the Aces scored 135 runs in the second half of their innings, with Sai Krishna scoring a 29-ball 50 before Himateja completed his half-century in just 18 balls.

The Knights made a brisk start to the chase, with Jashwanth Mote (22 off 13) and Gaurav Reddy (54 off 35) putting on 45 runs in under four overs. Gaurav led the charge with two towering sixes off Mahesh Vipparla, while Jashwanth chipped in with a six and a boundary before Mahesh provided the breakthrough by dismissing him at the end of the fourth over.

Ved triggered the collapse by removing Gaurav and Divesh (0 off 1) in the same over, before Wafi tightened the screws with a brilliant spell that accounted for Rahul via a run-out, as well as Aniketh Reddy (1 off 2) and Varun Goud (5 off 8), reducing the Knights to 124/7 after 15 overs.

The scores: Anvita Khammam Aces 211/2 in 20 overs (Himateja Kodimela 80 n.o., G Sai Krishna Reddy 56 n.o.) bt Anurag Nalgonda Knights 177/8 in 20 overs (Gaurav Reddy 54, Harshwardhan Singh 37*, Ved Reddy 3/26, Wafi Kachchhi 3/35).

Player of the match: K Himateja.