*Aarav Mahajan plays match winning 81 off 47 balls
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 19: USN Indians continued their dominance in the Uttarakhand Premier League with a resounding eight-wicket victory over Nainital SG Pipers at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Key performances by Aarav Mahajan and Yuvraj Chaudhary propelled USN Indians to their third consecutive win, enhancing their chances of reaching the final.
Despite a stunning century from Avneesh Sudha, the first in the league, where he scored an unbeaten 118 off 60 balls with seven fours and eight sixes, his efforts couldn’t save Nainital SG Pipers from defeat. Batting first, the Pipers posted a challenging total of 210/2, supported by a solid 77 from Priyanshu Khanduri before he retired hurt.
In response, USN Indians’ openers Aarav Mahajan and Yuvraj Chaudhary gave a blazing start, scoring 65 without loss in the Powerplay and 107/0 by the 10th over. Chaudhary’s quickfire 64 off 32 balls was halted by Nikhil Pundir, who also took the wicket of the well-set Mahajan after his brilliant 81 off 47 balls. Mahajan was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Reflecting on his innings, Mahajan said, “It was a special knock for me after struggling in the last few games. My seniors kept encouraging me, and I just focused on executing my practice.”
With 41 runs needed in the final four overs, Aryan Sharma (33 off 21) and captain Akhil Rawat (35 off 17) ensured a dramatic finish, leading USN Indians to victory with 216/2, the highest team total of the tournament so far. USN Indians now lead the standings with six points from three games.
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