SAS Nagar (Punjab), Sep 2026 : Amritsar Soormas kept their hopes of reaching the semifinals of the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League, powered by Punjab Kings, alive with a composed four-wicket victory over Fazilka Falcons at the I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Monday.
Chasing a challenging target of 192, Amritsar overcame a few anxious moments in the middle overs before Rahul Kumar produced a match-winning unbeaten half-century to guide his side across the finish line.
Earlier, Fazilka Falcons were put under pressure at the start of their innings after losing two wickets for just 20 runs. However, captain Shubman Gill and Pranshu Pratap steadied the innings with an important partnership that brought the Falcons back into the contest.
Gill and Pranshu added 72 runs for the third wicket, combining patience with aggressive strokeplay as they gradually accelerated the scoring rate. Gill once again led by example, smashing 67 off just 35 balls. The Fazilka skipper attacked the bowling and ensured the scoreboard continued to move at a healthy rate before eventually departing.
Pranshu continued to anchor the innings after Gill's dismissal and found an able partner in Sanvir Singh. The pair kept the pressure on the Soormas bowlers during the closing stages, with Sanvir providing the late impetus.
Pranshu scored a valuable 40 from 33 deliveries, while Sanvir struck a quick-fire 40 off only 21 balls to propel Fazilka to 191 for six in their allotted 20 overs.
For Amritsar, Mayank Markande delivered an economical four-over spell despite failing to take a wicket. He conceded only 26 runs, restricting the Falcons' scoring opportunities and helping prevent an even bigger total.
In reply, Amritsar made an explosive start. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Sahaj Dhawan immediately took the attack to the Fazilka bowlers, putting together 79 runs for the opening wicket.
Sharma was particularly aggressive, racing to 49 off just 15 balls before falling narrowly short of his half-century. Dhawan continued the momentum, but Amritsar subsequently lost wickets at regular intervals, allowing Fazilka to claw their way back into the contest.
With the Soormas reduced to 152 for five, the chase appeared to be heading towards a tense finish. Rahul Kumar then joined Reaven Preet Singh and adopted a calculated approach, ensuring that the required run rate remained within reach.
Reaven contributed briefly before being dismissed for eight off four balls, leaving Amritsar needing 16 runs for victory. The pressure was evident, but Rahul remained calm and took responsibility for finishing the chase.
He completed his half-century at a crucial stage and remained unbeaten on 53 off 35 balls. His controlled knock ensured there were no further setbacks as Amritsar Soormas reached the target with four wickets in hand, securing a vital win and keeping their semifinal ambitions firmly alive.
The result also highlighted the Soormas' ability to recover from pressure, with Rahul's composed finish proving decisive after Fazilka had mounted a strong challenge.
Brief Scores:
Fazilka Falcons: 191/6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 67, Pranshu Pratap 40, Sanvir Singh 40; Mayank Markande — 4-0-26-0)
Amritsar Soormas: 192/6 in 19.4 overs (Rahul Kumar 53 not out, Abhishek Sharma 49, Sahaj Dhawan; ) won by 4 wickets.
