Ritvik, Manikanteshwar, Hansin power Khalsa to nine-wicket win over Nizamabad in T20 final

Fast bowler Ritvik S claimed four wickets while openers Hansin Reddy and Manikanteshwar Reddy struck half-centuries to power Khalsa to a thumping nine-wicket win over Nizamabad District in the final of the HCA’s B Division T20 Knock-out at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.

Batting first, Nizamabad were rocked by Ritvik early on. Ritvik sent back opener Vikranth Reddy M (14) with 28 on the board. Srikar Reddy Yedla and Dama Ajith Raja Dama (26) then added 39 off 25 balls to the total before Ajith fell to Raj Aryan Singh.

Thereafter, Nizamabad were unable to stitch together any meaningful partnership. Srikar waged a lonely battle as the others failed to support him. But for sixth wicket partnership of 40 off 24 balls between Srikar and Rayyan Bin Abdullah, Nizamabad would have fared much worse.

Srikar was the seventh wicket to fall with the score reading 166. He was caught by Mohammed Ali off Rithvik after making 75 off 49 balls with six fours and three sixes.

Nizamabad were restricted to 167 for nine in 20 overs with Rithvik taking four for 22 in three overs.

In reply, Khalsa openers Hansin Reddy and Manikanteshwar Reddy put the rival attack to the sword as they added 133 for the first wicket off 91 balls. Manikanteshwar was the dominant partner as he made 81 off 50 balls with five fours and five sixes before he was caught by Ajith Raja off Ch Ruthwik.

Hansin Reddy remained unbeaten on 69 off 54 balls with seven fours and a six and Thakshil Erroju made a nine-ball 16 as Khalsa ran up 170 for one in 18.4 overs.

Brief scores: Nizamabad District 167/9 in 20 overs (Srikar Reddy Yedla 75, Ritvik S 4/22) lost to Khalsa 170/1 in 18.4 overs (M Hansin Reddy 69no, Manikanteshwar Reddy 81).