Days after Tri-Series win, Tilak Varma’s sensational century lights up TG20

Fans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium were promised a Mohammed Siraj vs Tilak Verma contest, a clash featuring two of the state’s biggest cricketing stars headlining the inaugural edition of TG20. Siraj skipped the fixture, and Warangal Warriors felt the sting as Tilak helped Medak Falcons storm to a three-wicket win on Monday.

Aman Rao’s blistering 133-run stand with Harshit Choudary helped Warriors post 101 in the PowerPlay. Surya Teja dismissed Harshit, but it did nothing to slow the flow of runs.

Aman, 21, blitzed his way to a 32-ball hundred and marked it with Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres’ trademark celebration. It took a sensational one-handed diving catch from Ravi Teja to end his breathtaking innings, but the damage was done as Warriors cruised to a formidable 258 for seven.

Falcons’ chase was dealt an early blow when Anirudh Srivatsa dismissed Naman Agarwal.

Tilak, fresh from a Tri-series win with India A, led from the front once more.

Despite losing partners along the way, Tilak’s lone wolf knock made a Herculean chase look like child’s play. His signature celebration, which didn’t come after bringing up the 50 or 100, came out in full force when he deservedly scored the winning run, before being mobbed by ecstatic teammates.

Ranga Reddy Riders cruise to win over Nalgona Knights

Powered by skipper Tanay Thyagaran’s blistering unbeaten half-century, Ranga Reddy Risers kicked off its TG20 campaign with a five-wicket win over Nalgonda Knights earlier in the day.

B. Punnaiah dismissed Gaurav Reddy off the first ball of the afternoon. The early breakthrough kept Knights in check before Nitish Reddy briefly shifted momentum with two sixes off Punnaiah.

The Knights were put under the pump, with Pranay Suryadevara and Nitish falling in successive overs.

Rahul Buddhi led the recovery, adding 41 runs (28 balls) with Nitish, before Nitin Yadav ended his stay. With wickets falling regularly, Risers looked set to restrict Knights to a below-par total. But a late assault from Divesh Singh (48, 27b, 5×4, 1×6) and Harshwardhan Singh (40 n.o., 20b, 5×4, 1×6) helped Knights plunder 58 runs in the final five overs to post a competitive score.

Chasing 190, Risers made a flying start through India’s 2024 U-19 World Cup star Avanish Rao, who hammered three sixes and a boundary to take 23 runs off Rakshann Readdi’s over – the most expensive of the day.

Avanish’s cameo ended when he holed out to Divesh Singh at long-on, and Risers were jolted further as Alankrith Rapole and Nanavath Rakesh fell soon after.

Tanay then steadied the chase alongside Aditya Javvaji, the pair adding 75 runs (41 balls) to wrest back control. He raced to a 23-ball fifty, mixing sweeps, pulls and scoops with ease as he eventually guided Risers home with 21 balls to spare.