Veera and Maheep set up Vizag Lions’ 44-run win over Amaravathi Royals in the APL

KH Veera Reddy and K Maheep Kumar struck half-centuries to set up Simhadri Vizag Lions’ 44-run win over Capital Amaravathi Royals in the Andhra Premier League 2026 at the YS Raja Reddy Cricket Stadium in Kadapa on Thursday night.

Skipper Ricky Bhui won the toss and decided to bat first but he fell with just 23 on the board. Ricky was caught by KV Sasikanth off Toshith for 5. Fellow opener N Himakar departed 16 runs later as he was bowled by Toshith after making a 20-ball 23 with three fours.

However, Veera Reddy and Maheep Kumar combined to lay the foundation for a good score for Simhadri Vizag Lions. The duo took on the rival bowling and added 89 off 54 balls to take the score to 128. Veera Reddy, who was the more aggressive of the two, was caught by B Ayyappa off UA Varma for a 34-ball 62 with eight fours and two sixes. Veera Reddy’s half-century came off 26 balls with six fours and two sixes.

B Vinay Kumar (7) was sent back by Sasikanth but Maheep Kumar and M Dhanush stitched a 52-run partnership off just 22 balls as Vizag Lions reached 196 before Maheep was run out by the Girinath and B Ayyappa combination. Maheep, whose 50 came off 35 balls, made a 41-ball 62 with seven fours and a six.

Simhadri Vizag Lions ended up with 202 for five wickets in 20 overs. Dhanush remained unbeaten on a 14-ball 36 with three fours and three sixes.

M Toshith Yadav took two for 32.

The Capital Amaravathi Royals’ reply never really took off as the batters were unable to build partnerships as Vizag Lions’ bowlers made inroads at regular intervals.

P Girinath took three for 29 and K Pramod Kumar bagged three for 34 as Amaravathi Royals were bowled out for 158 in 19 overs.

Opener T Varun Satwik (8) was the first to go as he was caught and bowled by B Vinay Kumar. Skipper Y Sandeep was caught by his counterpart Bhui off Girinath for 17.

SV Rahul and UMS Girinath then added 40 for the third wicket to try and stabilize the innings but Rahul was caught by Roshan off Pramod for 28 (19balls; 4×4, 1×6).

K Karan Shinde (2) was run out and it was left to Girinath and SDNV Prasad to bail out the side. They added 39 for the fifth wicket before Girinath had to retire out after making 37 off 31 balls with four boundaries.

Simhadri Vizag Lions’ KH Veera Reddy was named the Player of the Match against Capital Amaravathi Royals at the YS Raja Reddy Cricket Stadium in Kadapa on Thursday night

Prasad was the ninth wicket to fall as he was caught by Roshan off Girinath after making a 31-ball 42 with two fours and two sixes.

KH Veera Reddy was named Player of the Match.

Brief scores: Simhadri Vizag Lions 202 for five in 20 overs (N Himakar 23, KH Veera Reddy 62, K Maheep Kumar 62, M Dhanush 36 not out; M Toshith Yadav 2/32) beat Capital Amaravathi Royals 158 in 19 overs (SV Rahul 28, UMS Girinath 37, SDNV Prasad 42; P Girinath Reddy 3/29, K Pramod Kumar 3/34).