Malviya's Explosive Batting Secures Opening Win for Public Vani
Somraj Malviya delivered a powerful half-century to propel Public Vani to a convincing victory in the first match of the 31st IES-Digiana Inter Press Cricket Tournament 2026. The action unfolded at the Bab-e-Aali ground in Bhopal on Monday, where Public Vani defeated Vistar News by 28 runs.
Public Vani Sets a Challenging Target
Public Vani batted first and posted a strong total of 166 runs in their allotted 18 overs. Somraj Malviya led the charge with a blistering 58 runs, providing the backbone of the innings. Captain Vishal Garg and vice-captain Vinay Shukla supported him well, each contributing 18 runs to the scoreboard.
Vistar News fought back with the ball, as Cyril Basal emerged as the standout bowler. He claimed an impressive four wickets to disrupt Public Vani's batting lineup. Pratyaksh and Hem Sagar also made significant contributions, taking two wickets each to keep the pressure on.
Vistar News Falls Short in the Chase
Chasing 167 runs for victory, Vistar News struggled to maintain the required run rate. They managed to score only 138 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their 18 overs. Himanshu Dhariwal top-scored with 44 runs, while Sachin added 39 and Shahnawaz chipped in with 28 runs.
However, Prakash's excellent bowling performance sealed the win for Public Vani. He took three crucial wickets to break Vistar News's resistance and ensure his team's triumph.
Individual Accolades for Standout Performers
Somraj Malviya received the Man of the Match award for his match-winning half-century. Cyril Basal was honored as the RNTU Most Valuable Player for his four-wicket haul. Santosh Mishra, the Divisional Officer of Public Relations, presented the awards to the deserving players.
Bhopal Cricket Club Edges Out Gilt Free in Corporate Clash
In the other match of the day, Bhopal Cricket Club secured a narrow six-run victory over Gilt Free in the corporate group. Bhopal Cricket Club batted first and scored 154 runs, thanks to contributions from Amandeep (44 runs), Aditya Agarwal (36 runs), Vicky Bundela (23 runs), and Yogesh Rajak (22 runs).
Gilt Free's Vinod Pal was the pick of the bowlers, taking four wickets. Aliyazar and Srijan Juneja supported him well with two wickets each.
Gilt Free made a valiant effort in their chase but fell just short, scoring 148 runs. Ashutosh played a fiery innings of 70 runs, while Rizwan scored 23 and Shivam Choubey added 21 runs. Yogesh Rajak starred with the ball for Bhopal Cricket Club, taking three wickets. Amandeep and Vipin Maran also contributed with two wickets each to secure the win.
The opening day of the tournament provided thrilling cricket action, setting the stage for more exciting matches in the days to come.
