Skipper M Abhirath Reddy led from the front as he struck an unbeaten century to steer Jai Hanuman into the final of the HCA A Division T20 League-Cum-Knock-out Tournament 2026-27. In the final, Jai Hanuman will clash with Central Excise. The final will be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal on June 1.
In the Eliminator played at the Gymkhana Ground in Secunderabad on Saturday, Abhirath Reddy single-handedly took his side to a six-wicket win over East Marredpally Cricket Club (EMCC).
Replying to EMCC’s 202 for five in 20 overs, Jai Hanuman reached 203 for four in 16.4 overs with Abhirath remaining unbeaten on 132 off just 58 balls with eight fours and 13 towering sixes.
Abhirath was no dominating in his batmanship that the others paled out in significance. Abhirath and Anirudh Reddy N were involved in an unbeaten 103 partnership off 42 balls for the fifth wicket. Abhirath hammered 82 of those runs off 28 balls, while Anirudh contributed a 14-ball 17.
Jai Hanuman lost Sai Purnanand Rao (19) with 25 on the board. Rohit Rayudu (10) and Abhirath added 31 before the former fell.
Abhirath then added another 31 with Ananth Prateek Reddy (13), who went with the score reading 87. Shanmukha Ashwin too didn’t last long and Jai Hanuman were delicately placed at 100 for four but Abhirath had other ideas as he took on the rival bowling and tore it into shreds. Nishanth Saranu finished with two wickets for 34 runs.
Earlier, EMCC got off to a bad start as they lost opener and captain Pragnay Reddy (1) with 11 on the board. However, Aravelly Avanish Rao (46; 27b; 6×4, 2×6) and S Rohit Reddy added 55 for the second wicket.
Thereafter, it was Rohit show as the right-handed bat kept EMCC in the game with a 43-ball 81 which contained 9 fours and four sixes. Akhil Kumar Sankoju took two for 31 for the winners.
Brief scores: EMCC 202/5 in 20 overs (A Avanish 46, S Rohit Reddy 81) lost to Jai Hanuman 203/4 in 16.4 overs (M Abhirath Reddy 132no).
Central Excise thrash EMCC to reach final
In the qualifier on Friday, Central Excise had scored a thumping 10-wicket win over EMCC.
Openers Jashwanth Mote and PS Chaitanya Reddy scored half-centuries to steer Central Excise home without much ado.
Replying to EMCC’s 133, Central Excise rattled up 134 for no loss in 12.3 overs with Jashwant scoring a 39-ball 59 with seven fours and two sixes. Chaitanya, on the other hand, took just 36 balls to reach 72 with four boundaries and seven sixes.
Earlier, EMCC were in a poor state as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Barring S Rohit Reddy, none of the other batters put up any fight. Rohit scored 43 as EMCC managed 133 in 17.2 overs.
Anirudh Srivatsa (2/21), Sai Varun Yerram (2/26) and Durgesh Chennaihgari (2/24) did the damage.
Brief scores: EMCC 133 in 17.2 overs (S Rohit Reddy 43) lost to Central Excise 134/0 in 12.3 overs (Mote Jashwanth 59no, P S Chaitanya Reddy 72no).
