Bhimavaram Bulls rout Vizag Lions to emerge Andhra Premier League 2026 champions

Bhimavaram Bulls capped their incredible campaign with a resounding 10-wicket victory over Simhadri Vizag Lions to emerge champions in the Andhra Premier League 2026 at the ACA International Stadium in Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh.

In what turned out to be a rather lop-sided final, Bhimavaram Bulls gored Simhadri Vizag Lions to death with an all-round show.

Simhadri Vizag Lions skipper Ricky Bhui won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first. The motto being pile on the runs and put the opposition batters under pressure.

Ravi Teja wounds the Lions

However, the idea failed to take off as Ricky Bhui (9) was trapped leg before by Ch Ravi Teja to leave the Lions wounded early on.

N Himakar and K Haneesh Veera added 22 for the second wicket before Himakar was run out courtesy the Hemanth and Munish combination after making a 16-ball 17 with three fours.

Thereafter, wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals as Simhadri Vizag Lions batters failed to build partnerships. Haneesh was bowled by b Yeshwanth after making a 14-ball 15 and K Maheep Kumar was caught and bowled by Hemanth Reddy for 8. The Lions were now reeling at 57 for four.

T Vijay and B Vinay kumar then stitched the highest partnership of the innings, a 25-ball 37 for the fifth wicket. But it was too good to last as the Bhimavaram Bulls struck back quickly.

Sai Sravan trapped Vinay Kumar leg before for 19 off 14 balls with a four and a six. Ravi Kiran then trapped P Girinath Reddy (6) leg before to leave the Lions at 115 for six.

Ravi Teja then returned to deal a double blow in the 19th over of the game as he bowled M Dhanush (4) and trapped P Roshan Pawan (0) leg before as the Lions were hopelessly placed at 123 for eight.

However, T Vijay and Sk Kamaruddin got 16 runs off the last seven balls of the innings to take Simhadri Vizag Lions to 139 for eight in 20 overs.

Vijay remained unbeaten on 39 off 25 balls with two fours and two sixes. Kamaruddin was not out on a four-ball nine with a six. Ch Ravi Teja bagged three wickets for 22 runs, while M Ravi Kiran, B Yeshwanth, M Hemanth Reddy and TV Sai Sravan bagged a wicket each.

Hemanth and Revanth steers Bulls home with ease

In reply, Bhimavaram Bulls openers M Hemanth Reddy and K Revanth Reddy put the rival attack to the sword. The duo brooked no challenge as they toyed with the bowlers and piled on the runs.

The duo finished off the match in style as the added 40 off just 56 balls and the effort took under one hour.

Hemanth Reddy scored a 23-ball 59 not out with six fours and four sixes, while wicketkeeper K Revanth Reddy remained unbeaten on 71 off 33 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.

The first 50 came in 3.1 overs, while the 100 runs took 6.3 overs.

Brief scores: Simhadri Vizag Lions 139 for eight in 20 overs (N Himakar 17, K Haneesh Veera 15, T Vijay 39 not out, B Vinay Kumar 19; Ch Ravi Teja 3/22) lost to Bhimavaram Bulls 140 for no loss in 9.2 overs (M Hemanth Reddy 59 not out, K Revanth Reddy 71 not out).

Player of the Match: Ch Raviteja (3-0-22-3).

Girish Dongre: The silent force behind ACA’s success

Girish Dongre, chief operating officer of the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), has quietly emerged as one of the key architects of ACA’s recent successes. Working diligently behind the scenes, Dongre has overseen the seamless delivery of major cricketing events over the past year, including high-profile bilateral series, the Indian Premier League (IPL), and the ICC Women’s fixtures.

Beyond international and national tournaments, Dongre has also steered the Andhra Premier League (APL) through two successful seasons. The latest edition marked a milestone, with matches staged across three venues, drawing record-breaking crowds and elevating the league’s stature in the domestic cricketing landscape.

Dongre’s understated leadership and meticulous planning have ensured that ACA continues to strengthen its reputation as a premier hub for cricket, while offering fans unforgettable experiences both on and off the field.