In a thrilling finale to the league stage of the Odisha Pro T20 League 2025, Sambalpur Warriors clinched their semifinal spot with a dramatic three-wicket victory over Keonjhar Miners in Cuttack on September 25. The nail-biting win, decided by just one ball, locked in all four semifinalists who now battle it out on Thursday at Barabati Stadium for a shot at the grand finale on September 26.
The do-or-die clash saw Sambalpur Warriors choose to bowl first after winning the toss. Keonjhar Miners got off to a shaky start when opener Om T. Munde fell for just 4 runs after a run-out. But skipper Govinda Poddar turned things around with a explosive 71 off 36 balls, while Sujal Singh added a solid 38 from 40 deliveries. Anil Parida contributed 12 off 17 as Keonjhar Miners reached 141 for 9 in their 20 overs.
Sambalpur’s bowlers shone brightly, with Vimal Kumar grabbing 3 wickets for 26 runs and Tarini Sa taking 3 for 30. Rakesh Pattnaik also impressed, snaring 2 wickets for just 7 runs in his two overs.
Chasing 142, Sambalpur Warriors started strong with openers Adithya Rout smashing 22 off 11 balls and Shreyansh Bhardwaj joining the attack. Skipper Subhranshu Senapati steadied the innings with 40 from 36 deliveries before Papu Ray dismissed him. Rakesh Pattnaik chipped in with 21 off 18, keeping the pressure on.
The match went down to the wire, with two runs needed off the last two balls. Prayash Singh stayed cool under pressure, finishing unbeaten on 26 off 16 balls, and sealed the Odisha Pro T20 League thriller with a massive six. Rama Behera supported with an unbeaten 14 off 11, helping Sambalpur Warriors reach 142 for 7 in 19.5 overs.
Papu Ray starred for Keonjhar Miners with stunning figures of 4 wickets for 19 runs in four overs. Sayed Ahmed (1-33), Govinda Poddar (1-6), and Om T. Munde (1-28) each claimed one wicket.
Now, the semifinals heat up on September 26. In the first match at 2:00 PM, Sambalpur Warriors face Bhubaneswar Tigers. The second semifinal at 7:00 PM pits Cuttack Panthers against Puri Titans. Fans can’t wait to see who advances to the Odisha Pro T20 League final at Barabati Stadium.
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