Saif Ali's Early Blitz Sets Up Calcutta Challengers' Emphatic 7-Wicket Win Over Hanuman Hurricanes
Man of the Match Saif Ali rips out three early wickets and returns to remove well-set Biswajit for figures of 4/17, before Miraj's blistering unbeaten 49 guides Calcutta Challengers home in just 7 overs
Calcutta Challengers held their nerve with the ball inside the powerplay and then chased down a testing target with overs to spare, beating Hanuman Hurricanes by 7 wickets. After restricting Hurricanes to 94/7 in their 10 overs, Challengers knocked off the target in style, reaching 99/3 in just 7.0 overs — and one bowler's early burst set the tone for the entire match.
Man of the Match: Saif Ali
Saif Ali was the difference-maker with the ball, ripping through the Hanuman Hurricanes top order to leave them reeling at 13/3 inside the first two overs. He removed Vishal Kumar, Dheeraj Khanna and Karan Mahi in a devastating opening burst, then returned late in the innings to dismiss the well-set Biswajit — who had counter-attacked his way to 51 — for the finishing blow of a match-defining spell. He finished with 4/17 in his 2 overs (economy 8.50), giving Calcutta Challengers control of the game from start to finish and making him a clear choice for Man of the Match.
Key Contributions from Teammates
Saif Ali's early strikes were backed up well by Sauvik Chaudhury, who took 2/12 in his 2 overs to keep the pressure on through the middle of the innings, while Golam Masud chipped in with a wicket for 22. Once the target was set, Miraj took over with the bat, striking an unbeaten 49 off just 18 balls (two fours, five sixes, SR 272.22) to steer Calcutta Challengers home comfortably. Tanmay Karmakar played his part too, contributing 17 off 8 (two fours, one six) before Anindya Hazra finished things off with an unbeaten 7 off 2 balls that included a six.
Hanuman Hurricanes' Notable Performances
Hanuman Hurricanes were staring at an early collapse after Saif Ali's opening burst reduced them to 13/3, but Biswajit produced a superb counter-attacking knock of 51 off just 27 balls (two fours, five sixes, SR 188.89) to almost single-handedly rebuild the innings and drag the total to a fighting 94/7. Karan Mahi got the innings underway with 8 off 6, and captain Raj Kumar Singh and Suvo Acharjee added useful late runs, finishing unbeaten on 1 and 6 respectively to push the total past 90. With the ball in the chase, Hurricanes fought back through Dheeraj Khanna (1/28), Naru (1/13) and Anmol (1/21), but the required rate never troubled Calcutta Challengers once Miraj found his rhythm.
Looking Ahead
A disciplined bowling effort inside the powerplay, led by Saif Ali's early damage, proved the difference in a match where both sides showed plenty of firepower. Hanuman Hurricanes will take heart from Biswajit's counter-attacking fifty even in defeat, while Calcutta Challengers move on with confidence after a clinical chase.
Hanuman Hurricanes — Batting (94/7 in 10.0 Ov)
| Batsman | Status | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karan Mahi | c hamzad b Saif Ali | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 133.33 |
| Vishal Kumar | c Golok Bera b Saif Ali | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Dheeraj Khanna | c †Tanmay Karmakar b Saif Ali | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sanku Singha | c Anindya Hazra b Sauvik Chaudhury | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Biswajit | c †Tanmay Karmakar b Saif Ali | 51 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 188.89 |
| Gaurav Singh | c Anindya Hazra b Golam Masud | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Naru | c Anindya Hazra b Sauvik Chaudhury | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Raj Kumar Singh (c) (not out) | not out | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Suvo Acharjee (not out) | not out | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Extras (b 1, wd 12, nb 2, lb 1) | 16 | |||||
| Total: 10.0 Ov, 7 Wkts | 94 (CRR 9.40) | |||||
To bat: Anmol, Rajneesh, Sayantan Giri
Fall of Wickets — Hanuman Hurricanes
10-1 (Vishal Kumar, 1.1 ov), 11-2 (Dheeraj Khanna, 1.2 ov), 13-3 (Karan Mahi, 1.5 ov), 43-4 (Sanku Singha, 4.1 ov), 63-5 (Gaurav Singh, 5.4 ov), 75-6 (Naru, 8 ov), 87-7 (Biswajit, 8.4 ov)
Bowling — Calcutta Challengers
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | WD | NB | Eco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suraj Prahladka | 1.2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15.00 |
| Saif Ali | 2 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8.50 |
| Tanmay Karmakar | 0.4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.50 |
| Golam Masud | 2 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Sauvik Chaudhury | 2 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Golok Bera | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7.00 |
Calcutta Challengers — Batting (99/3 in 7.0 Ov)
| Batsman | Status | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hamzad | c Naru b Dheeraj Khanna | 11 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 137.50 |
| Golok Bera | c Dheeraj Khanna b Naru | 12 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Miraj (not out) | not out | 49 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 272.22 |
| Tanmay Karmakar (wk) | b Anmol | 17 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 212.50 |
| Anindya Hazra (not out) | not out | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 350.00 |
| Extras (lb 1, wd 2) | 3 | |||||
| Total: 7.0 Ov, 3 Wkts | 99 (CRR 14.14) | |||||
To bat: Sauvik Chaudhury, Saif Ali, Suraj Prahladka, Biswajeet Dey, Imran, Ashutosh Maurya (c), Golam Masud
Fall of Wickets — Calcutta Challengers
22-1 (Golok Bera, 2 ov), 24-2 (hamzad, 2.3 ov), 79-3 (Tanmay Karmakar, 6.2 ov)
Bowling — Hanuman Hurricanes
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | WD | Eco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sayantan Giri | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Naru | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 13.00 |
| Dheeraj Khanna | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 14.00 |
| Rajneesh | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 18.00 |
| Anmol | 1 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 21.00 |
Result
Calcutta Challengers won by 7 wickets — Hanuman Hurricanes 94/7 (10.0 Ov), Calcutta Challengers 99/3 (7.0 Ov)
- Man of the Match: Saif Ali — 4/17 (2 Ov, Eco 8.50) 🏆
- Top Scorer: Miraj — 49* (18b, 2×4, 5×6, SR 272.22)
- Hurricanes Top Scorer: Biswajit — 51 (27b, 2×4, 5×6, SR 188.89)
- Also Impressive: Sauvik Chaudhury — 2/12 (2 Ov, Eco 6.00)
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