Pradeep Pradhan was most successful bowler for the Panthers, bagging four wickets for 20 runs. But the victory target of 142, set by Pumas, proved to be easy for Panthers as they romped home with 4.3 overs and nine wickets to spare. Sidhant Jena led the chase, hitting a 39-ball unbeaten 63 (5x4, 5x6). He was well supported by Ankit Singh (43 not out) and Alok Chandra Sahoo (23).

In the second match, played under lights, Abhishk Raut starred in the victory for Cheetas, hitting a 42-ball 58 (5x4, 3x6). His 74-run stand for the fourth wicket with Sourav Gauda (39) helped Cheetas make 154 for eight after they were put into bat by Tigers captain Debasish Samantray. Among Tigers bowlers, Shekhar Majhi and Sanjay Das claimed three wickets each.

In reply, Tigers got off to a solid start with Ayush Naik (52) and Dibyashakti Chakrabarty (65) putting on 118 runs for the opening wicket. But Mrunmay Tripathy and Ramachandra Behera captured three wickets each to enable Cheetas restrict Tigers to 147 for seven. Raut was declared the man of the match.

Earlier in the day, the League was inaugurated by Odisha Test cricketer and National Senior Selection Committee member Debasis Mohanty. He was felicitated on the occasion by Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) president Pankaj Lochan Mohanty and secretary Sanjay Behera.

BRIEF SCORES (27 December, 2020):

Match 1: Odisha Pumas 141/8 in 20 overs (Prayash Singh 74, Sandeep Pattnaik 41; Pradeep Pradhan 4/20, Alok Chandra Sahoo 2/11) lost to Odisha Panthers 142/1 in 15.3 overs (Sidhant Jena 63*, Ankit Singh 43*; Prayash Singh 1/30) by 9 wickets. Man of the Match: Pradeep Pradhan.

Match 2: Odisha Cheetas 154/8 in 20 overs (Abhishek Raut 58*, Sourav Gouda 39; Shekhar Majhi 3/26, Sanjay Das 3/28) beat Odisha Tigers 147/7 in 20 overs (Dibyashakti Chakrabarty 65, Ayush Naik 52; Mrunmay Tripathy 3/25, Ramachandra Behera 3/20) by 7 runs. MoM: Abhishek Raut.
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TOP: Abhishek Raut of Odisha Cheetas receives the Man of the Match prize from OCA vice-president Akshaya Samanta in Cuttack on 27 Dec 2020.
RIGHT: OCA office-bearers felicitate cricket star Debasis Mohanty is at the opening ceremony of the Odisha T20 Cricket League in Cuttack on 27 Dec 2020.