Pasi’s Record-Equaling Ton Not Enough as Teams Qualify for T20 Super League
A blistering century from Baroda’s Amit Pasi wasn’t enough to propel his team into the Super League, as several sides secured their berths in the next stage of the domestic T20 competition. Pasi’s stunning knock highlighted a day of compelling action, with Punjab, Haryana, Mumbai, and Jharkhand also confirming their progression.
Pasi Matches Debut Record in Defeat
Baroda’s wicketkeeper-batter Amit Pasi etched his name into the record books with a magnificent 114 off 55 balls against Services in Hyderabad. The innings equaled Bilal Asif’s record for the highest score on T20 debut. Pasi’s explosive hitting, featuring ten fours and nine sixes, powered Baroda to a competitive 220 for 5. Despite his heroics, Baroda ultimately fell short, finishing with 16 points and missing out on Super League qualification. Services responded strongly, reaching 207 for 8, but were defeated by 13 runs.
Pasi reached his fifty in just 24 balls and his century in 44, showcasing remarkable acceleration. A crucial 75-run partnership in 5.2 overs with Vishnu Solanki (25 off 12) and a late flourish from Bhanu Pania (28 not out off 15) bolstered Baroda’s total. Services’ chase was anchored by opening contributions from Kunwar Pathak and Ravi Chauhan, both scoring 51, and a quickfire 41 off 22 from captain Mohit Ahlawat. However, only Nakul Sharma provided significant support. Raj Limbani was the pick of the Baroda bowlers, claiming 3 for 37.
Punjab, Haryana Secure Super League Spots
Punjab sealed their Super League berth with a dominant 75-run victory over Gujarat. Naman Dhir’s rapid 61 off 36 and an all-round performance from Harpreet Brar were instrumental in setting a challenging total of 188 for 8. Dhir’s innings included four fours and three sixes, supported by contributions from Salil Arora (30 off 19) and Sanvir Singh (30 off 17). Harpreet Brar then showcased his power-hitting, smashing 24 off just eight balls.
The bowling attack then restricted Gujarat to 113 in 16.1 overs. Gujarat struggled, with opener Urvil Patel dismissed for a duck and only one batter surpassing 15 runs. Ashwani Kumar, Ramandeep Singh, Harpreet, Sanvir, and Gaurav Chaudhary each took two wickets apiece. Notably, Harpreet Brar dismantled Harshal Patel, conceding 24 runs from six balls, while Ravi Bishnoi also proved expensive, giving away 36 runs from four overs.
Haryana also progressed from Group C, defeating Bengal by 24 runs. A strong batting performance led by Ankit Kumar (46 off 30), Nishant Sindhu (48 off 31), and Yashvardhan Dalal (31 off 22) saw Haryana post 191 for 9. Despite a spirited spell from Mohammed Shami (4-0-30-4) and Akash Deep (4-0-32-2), Haryana’s batters maintained momentum, scoring 99 runs in the second half of the innings. Bengal’s chase faltered, with only Abhishek Porel (47 off 24) and Writtick Chatterjee (44 off 33) offering resistance.
Mumbai and Jharkhand Triumph
Mumbai secured a convincing nine-wicket win against Odisha, spearheaded by a masterful innings from *Ajinkya Rahane (95). Rahane surpassed Suryakumar Yadav’s previous record, becoming Mumbai’s all-time leading run-scorer in T20s with 1727 runs. A rapid 74-run opening partnership with Sarfaraz Khan in the powerplay set the tone, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (38 off 26)** finished the job with four overs to spare.
Finally, Jharkhand defeated Rajasthan in a top-of-the-table clash in Ahmedabad. A powerful batting display from Virat Singh (69 off 36), captain Kumar Kushagra (55 off 37), and Robin Minz (58 off 27) propelled Jharkhand to 215 for 5. Rajasthan were then bowled out for 179, with Anukul Roy and Sushant Mishra each claiming three wickets. . The Super League stage promises further exciting contests as these teams battle for supremacy.
