Ludhiana Lions Storm into Sher-E-Punjab T20 League Semifinals with Five-Wicket Win

SAS Nagar (Punjab), Sep 2026 : Ludhiana Lions booked their place in the semifinals of the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League after defeating Amritsar Soorma by five wickets at the I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Friday.

Chasing a target of 177, the Lions needed only 62 runs to secure qualification because of their superior net run rate. However, Ludhiana went beyond the required mark, completing the chase in the 19th over to register a convincing victory and confirm their place among the final four.

Batting first after being asked to set a target, Amritsar Soorma scored 176/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Their innings suffered an early setback when Sahaj Dhawan was dismissed cheaply, but Jashanpreet Singh and Abhay Choudhary steadied the innings with a 32-run partnership for the second wicket.

Choudhary provided impetus with an attacking 25 off 15 deliveries, but his dismissal triggered another collapse. Amritsar struggled to build partnerships and lost wickets at regular intervals, slipping to 97/5 and finding themselves in danger of being bowled out for a modest total.

Rahul Kumar then produced a crucial rescue act for the Soorma. He found an effective partner in Ishmeet Singh Sandhu, with the duo adding 64 runs for the sixth wicket. Rahul took responsibility for the scoring, attacking the bowlers and keeping the scoreboard moving with a series of useful strokes.

Rahul eventually top-scored with a valuable 57 off 36 balls, providing Amritsar with much-needed momentum during the middle and latter stages of the innings. Ishmeet also played an important supporting role before Ludhiana finally broke the partnership.

Although Amritsar lost several more wickets towards the end, the Soorma managed to reach 176/9, setting Ludhiana a target of 177.

For the Lions, Kartik Chadha was among the most effective bowlers, returning figures of 2/31 from four overs. His spell helped restrict Amritsar's scoring rate and prevented the Soorma batters from adding a larger total during the closing overs.

Ludhiana also endured an uncertain beginning to their run chase. The Lions lost two early wickets and were reduced to 32/2, giving Amritsar an opportunity to put pressure on the qualification contenders.

The game changed dramatically when Salil Arora and Karteek Sharma joined forces. The pair launched a counter-attacking assault, taking on the Amritsar bowling attack and rapidly shifting the momentum in Ludhiana's favour.

Their partnership took the Lions towards safety, eventually bringing the equation down to 67 runs from 60 deliveries. Salil was particularly destructive, smashing 70 from just 35 balls, including six sixes and four fours.

Karteek provided excellent support at the other end and also completed his half-century as the pair put together a commanding 120-run partnership.

Salil's dismissal briefly raised hopes of an Amritsar comeback, but Ludhiana remained firmly in control. Karteek continued to steer the chase and scored 56 off 40 balls before being dismissed, with the Lions requiring only nine runs from 19 deliveries.

Krish Bhagat fell soon afterwards while attempting to clear the field, but Ludhiana had already done enough to ensure victory. The Lions completed the chase in the 19th over, securing a five-wicket win and sealing their semifinal berth.

The result sets up an exciting playoff stage. Mohali Kings will face Amritsar Soorma in the first semifinal, while Ludhiana Lions will take on Jalandhar Warriors in the second semifinal.