223/5 (18.5)
CR : 11.84
219/8 (20.0)
CR : 10.95
Pagariya Strikers Nagpur won by 5 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Ravikumar Samarth
101(55)*
18.5
4
Abhishek Gupta to Aditya Ahuja
FOUR! Aditya Ahuja finishes the game with a boundary and Pagariya Strikers Nagpur avenge the defeat of the last year's final. They have got the victory by 5 wickets and with 7 balls to go. This is a brilliant run chase from them. Short ball at the off stump. Ahuja goes for the pull but gets a massive top edge that flies over the keeper and goes to the fence.
Over 19
Pagariya Strikers Nagpur 223/5
Aditya Ahuja22(13)
Ravikumar Samarth101(55)
Abhishek Gupta1-52(3.5)
PAS won by 5 wickets
11:19 PM IST, Local Time: A scintillating century from Ravikumar Samarth helped Pagariya Strikers Nagpur chase down a mammoth target of 219 with ease and thump the defending champions by five wickets in the curtain-raiser of VPL 2026.
Earlier, Neco Master Blaster posted a strong 219/8, thanks largely to a dominant first half of the innings. Skipper Adhyayan Daga smashed 78 off 42 balls, while Tushar Kadu unleashed a stunning 87 off just 26 deliveries as Master Blaster raced to 147/1 in the first 10 overs.
However, Pagariya Strikers staged an impressive comeback in the latter half, restricting Master Blaster to just 72 runs and seven wickets in the final 10 overs. Captain Yash Kadam led the fightback with crucial breakthroughs, while Lalit Yadav claimed 3/35. Despite the late collapse, Master Blaster finished with a challenging total of 219/8.
Pagariya Strikers Nagpur chased down the imposing 220-run target in style, despite losing R Sanjay on the very first ball of the innings. After the early setback, Md Faiz provided momentum with a brisk 24 off 17 balls before falling in the sixth over. The match then belonged to Ravikumar Samarth, who produced a sensational unbeaten 101 off just 55 deliveries, smashing 16 fours and two sixes to anchor the chase.
Samarth found valuable support from wicketkeeper Shivam Deshmukh, who blasted 39 off 15 balls with four sixes, and Aditya Ahuja, who remained unbeaten on 22 off 13 balls. Their aggressive partnerships kept the required rate under control and ensured the defending champions never recovered after their strong batting display.
For Neco Master Blaster, Dipesh Parwani was the most successful bowler with 2 wickets, while Ananmay Jaiswal and Abhishek Gupta claimed one wicket each. However, the bowlers had no answer to Samarth's brilliance as Pagariya Strikers Nagpur completed a remarkable chase and secured a memorable victory in the opening match of VPL 2026.
Stay tuned for the post-match presentation......
Earlier, Neco Master Blaster posted a strong 219/8, thanks largely to a dominant first half of the innings. Skipper Adhyayan Daga smashed 78 off 42 balls, while Tushar Kadu unleashed a stunning 87 off just 26 deliveries as Master Blaster raced to 147/1 in the first 10 overs.
However, Pagariya Strikers staged an impressive comeback in the latter half, restricting Master Blaster to just 72 runs and seven wickets in the final 10 overs. Captain Yash Kadam led the fightback with crucial breakthroughs, while Lalit Yadav claimed 3/35. Despite the late collapse, Master Blaster finished with a challenging total of 219/8.
Pagariya Strikers Nagpur chased down the imposing 220-run target in style, despite losing R Sanjay on the very first ball of the innings. After the early setback, Md Faiz provided momentum with a brisk 24 off 17 balls before falling in the sixth over. The match then belonged to Ravikumar Samarth, who produced a sensational unbeaten 101 off just 55 deliveries, smashing 16 fours and two sixes to anchor the chase.
Samarth found valuable support from wicketkeeper Shivam Deshmukh, who blasted 39 off 15 balls with four sixes, and Aditya Ahuja, who remained unbeaten on 22 off 13 balls. Their aggressive partnerships kept the required rate under control and ensured the defending champions never recovered after their strong batting display.
For Neco Master Blaster, Dipesh Parwani was the most successful bowler with 2 wickets, while Ananmay Jaiswal and Abhishek Gupta claimed one wicket each. However, the bowlers had no answer to Samarth's brilliance as Pagariya Strikers Nagpur completed a remarkable chase and secured a memorable victory in the opening match of VPL 2026.
Stay tuned for the post-match presentation......
Shivam Deshmukh (Pagariya Strikers Nagpur): "(On his feelings) Yes it feels good. I played around 40 in 15 balls and that gave the momentum for which we chased 220.
(You scored 82 in the last year's final but ended up on the losing side. This 39 will help you to have a good sleep) Yes yes. We think everyday about contributing to the team. Today an opportunity was there.
(What was the plan when the opener got out in the first ball?) Looking at our batting line-up, we were very positive.
(About the partnership with Samarth) It was special. He stabilized the entire thing. He was there till the last over and that won us the game.
(About the start with a win) It is important to start on a high note. It makes the momentum better."
(You scored 82 in the last year's final but ended up on the losing side. This 39 will help you to have a good sleep) Yes yes. We think everyday about contributing to the team. Today an opportunity was there.
(What was the plan when the opener got out in the first ball?) Looking at our batting line-up, we were very positive.
(About the partnership with Samarth) It was special. He stabilized the entire thing. He was there till the last over and that won us the game.
(About the start with a win) It is important to start on a high note. It makes the momentum better."
Time for the post-match presentations.
Player of the Match: Ravikumar Samarth
Yash Kadam (Pagariya Strikers Nagpur Captain): "Yeah, I'm feeling really happy that we executed our batting plans well. [On Shivam Deshmukh] For him, the rule was simple: see the ball and hit the ball, nothing else."
That’s all from the opening game of VPL 2026. It was a run-fest in the curtain-raiser, with more than 440 runs scored across both innings. Neco Master Blaster posted a formidable 219/8, but Pagariya Strikers Nagpur produced a sensational chase, powered by a scintillating unbeaten century from Ravikumar Samarth. His match-winning knock stole the spotlight and helped the Strikers begin their campaign with a memorable victory. For now, it's me, Deepak Prakash, signing off on behalf of my colleagues, Saptak Sanyal and Ghanendra Singh Thakur. Until next time, goodbye and take care!