An electrifying unbeaten knock of 52 by captain Suryakant Pradhan powered Odisha Lions to a 14-run win over Odisha Cheetahs in the first semifinal of the Odisha Cricket League (OCL T20) at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack today. Pradhan hit six sixes and three boundaries in his 16-ball knock to be adjudged as the player of the match.

Chasing a revised target of 134 for victory in 18 overs, Odisha Cheetahs could make 119 for five to lose the match via DLS Method. Captain Biplab Samantray led the Cheetahs from the front, scalping three wickets for 15 runs and hitting a 40-ball unconquered 51. But his valiant efforts could not stop the Lions from marching into the final.

RESULTS:

15 July 2024 (1st Semifinal): Odisha Lions 152/6 in 20 overs (Suryakant Pradhan 52*, Dibyashakti Chakraborty 30; Biplab Samantray 3/15) beat Odisha Cheetahs 119/5 in 18 overs (Biplab Samantray 51*, Aashirwad Swain 24*; Sumit Maharana 2/22, Suryakant Pradhan 1/30) by 14 runs (DLS Method). PoM: Suryakant Pradhan.
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PHOTO: Odisha Lions captain Suryakant Pradhan receives the Player of the Match award from OCA member Bijay Kumar Das at the Odisha Cricket League in Cuttack on 15 July 2024.