Hyderabad E-Champions extend unbeaten run with 56-run victory over Anvita Khammam Aces

Hyderabad E-Champions continued their dominant run in the TG20 League with a 56-run win over Anvita Khammam Aces. Abhirath Reddy’s 59 and key contributions from Ganesh Gadugu and Sriniketh powered a strong all-round performance at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium

Hyderabad: Hyderabad E-Champions produced a dominant all-round display to record a comfortable 56-run victory over Anvita Khammam Aces in the Sreenidhi University TG20 League championship at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Monday night.

A blistering half-century from Abhirath Reddy, valuable contributions from district player Ganesh Gadugu and Anvith Reddy, and disciplined bowling led by Sriniketh and Ajay Dev Goud helped the E-Champions defend 211 and extend their unbeaten run at the top of the table.

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Meanwhile, Abhirath’s impressive 59 off 26 balls took him to the top of the Orange Cap standings with 252 runs to his name. Ajay Dev also moved to the top of the Purple Cap standings with 10 wickets.

E-Champions recovered from a watchful start through an explosive opening partnership between Sai Vikas Reddy (22 off 20) and Abhirath. The skipper then took the attack to the bowlers with a flurry of boundaries and sixes, including a 24-run fifth over, as the E-Champions raced to 77/1 at the end of the powerplay before Ved Reddy dismissed him.

Sai Vikas continued to anchor the innings alongside Anvith Reddy (32 off 21) as the E-Champions crossed the 100-run mark in the 11th over. Ved then removed Sai Vikas, while Shanmukha Ashwin’s quickfire cameo of 19 off 13 balls, featuring two sixes, kept the momentum going before GSK Reddy struck. Anvith and Ganesh Gadugu (44 off 21) then followed up with a brisk 31-run partnership to take the score to 136/3 after 13 overs.

Ganesh accelerated brilliantly at the death, striking two sixes off Vidyananda Reddy before Anvith’s run-out briefly slowed the innings. Pranav Varma (18 off 13) chipped in with timely boundaries as Hyderabad E-Champions surged past 170 with four overs remaining.

Despite the late collapse, E-Champions finished with a formidable 211/9.

With a tough target to chase, Aces endured a shaky start, losing GSK Reddy (7 off 5) in the second over despite a brisk beginning from Wafi Kachchhi (21 off 15) and Himateja Kodimela. Wafi looked dangerous with a couple of boundaries but was dismissed by Sriniketh in the fifth over, while Mayank Gupta (5 off 8) struggled to accelerate as Aces reached 50/2 at the end of the powerplay.

The innings lost further momentum through the middle overs as Ashwin and Anvith kept the scoring in check. Ashwin accounted for Mayank, while Anvith removed Mickil Jaiswal (3 off 8) to leave Aces at 68/4 after 10 overs. Himateja, however, kept the chase alive with an aggressive counterattack, smashing two sixes and a four off Akhil Rathod before finding support from Prateek Reddy (11 off 12).

Aces’ hopes of a late comeback faded in the death overs despite a few blows from Sahendra Mallu (16 off 9). Ajay Dev struck a crucial blow by dismissing Sahendra in the 18th over before Ganesh Gadugu wrapped up the innings with two wickets in the final over, restricting Aces to 155/9 in 20 overs.

The scores: Hyderabad E-Champions 211/9 in 20 overs (Abhirath Reddy 59, Ganesh Gadugu 44, Ved Reddy 2/24, Sahendra Mallu 2/35) bt Anvita Khammam Aces 155/9 in 20 overs (Himateja Kodimela 65, Wafi Kachchhi 21, K. Sriniketh 3/28, Ajay Dev Goud 2/36, Ganesh Gadugu 2/2). Player of the match: K. Sriniketh.