Published: June 27, 2026 at 9:47 pm
A blistering 117-run opening partnership between Sai Vikas Reddy and skipper Abhirath Reddy helped Hyderabad E-Champions register a commanding 46-run victory against Medak Falcons in the Hyderabad Cricket Association’s TG20 on Saturday. This was the E-Champions third win in as many games, maintaining their record as the only unbeaten side in the tournament.
Sai Vikas’ 93 off 48 balls, including eight fours and six sixes, along with Abhirath’s 27-ball 59 with seven fours and three sixes set the platform for the table-toppers as they posted 240 for 8 in the first innings. Despite Vikram Naik’s fighting 75-run knock off 42 balls in the chase, Falcons fell short as Ajay Dev Goud (4 for 20) emerged as the pick of the bowlers for the e-Champions.
Asked to bat first, e-Champions’ openers took a couple of overs to get their eye in before unleashing a flurry of strokes on the bowlers to give their side a flying start. Abhirath and Sai Vikas combined clever strike rotation with exceptional strokeplay to set the platform for their team, scoring 68 runs in the powerplay.
Hyderabad e-Champions skipper Abhirath Reddy Mandadi plays a shot against Medak Falcons at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. Pics: Vipin Pawar / CREIMAS
Both batters struck quickfire half-centuries, with Abhirath reaching the milestone in 23 balls, while his partner got there in 27 balls. The two piled on a 117-run opening stand, the first 100-run opening stand for the e-Champions, before Abbas Syed Ghazi (2 for 43) provided the pivotal breakthrough to dismiss Abhirath in the 10th over. Sai Vikas continued the onslaught alongside Nithin Nayak (18 off 12 balls) as the two stitched together a 44-run stand in 23 balls.
Falcons began to pull things back as Ahwinan Ram dismissed Nithin in the 13th over. Vikram Naik (2 for 20) then struck a vital double blow in the 16th over. He first got rid of the dangerous Sai Vikas followed by Pranav Varma (4 off 7 balls), triggering a collapse. This wrestled back momentum for the Falcons as the e-Champions lost six wickets for 53 runs.
Ajay Dev Goud bagged four for 20 to fashion Hyderabad victory
Syed Ghazi, Ravi Teja (1/38), Sai Varun Yerram (1/49), and debutant Kartikeya Kak (1/41) were all amongst the wickets towards the backend of the innings. However, Ganesh Gadugu’s seven-ball 22-run cameo powered the e-Champions to a strong finish, helping them post 240 for 8.
Medak stutter in replay
Falcons suffered an early stutter in their run chase with Ajay dismissing Naman Agarwal (0 off 1 ball) in the first over. Despite the setback, Vikram Naik and Ishan Sharma (27 off 18 balls with four fours and a six) ensured that they made the most of the powerplay, scoring 65 runs. The two took calculated risks to build the innings steadily before Pranav broke the 61-run stand.
Vikram Naik continued to power his way with a 29-ball fifty, keeping his side afloat in the chase. He combined with his captain Ravi Teja (31 off 18 balls with a four and three sixes) to notch a 63-run stand as the two kept the required run rate in check.
Vikram Naik scored 75 but his effort went in vain as Medak Falcons lost by 46 runs
With the game hanging in the balance, Nithin Nayak got the better of Vikram in the 13th over. That wicket derailed the Falcons’ chase as their captain fell to Sriniketh (1 for 37) soon after, with the rest of the side buckling as they lost six wickets for 36 runs.
Ajay and Pranav Varma (2 for 35) struck at regular intervals to send the Falcons’ lower order packing. Apart from Sai Varun (38 off 20 balls with six fours and a six), no other Falcons’ lower middle order batter scored in double digits. Eventually, the e-Champions registered a comfortable victory in the end, winning by 46 runs to keep their unbeaten run intact.
Brief scores: Hyderabad E-Champions 240 for 8 in 20 overs (Sai Vikas Reddy 93, Abhirath Reddy 59, Ganesh Gadugu 22 not out; Vikram Naik 2/20, Abbas Syed Ghazi 2/43) beat Medak Falcons 194 for 9 in 20 overs (Vikram Naik 75, Sai Varun Yerram 38, Ravi Teja 31, Ishan Sharma 27; Ajay Dev Goud 4/20, P Varma 2/35).
Player of the match: Sai Vikas Reddy
