Harsh Tyagi brings East Delhi Riders from the brink, to final

In what turned out to be the match of the Delhi Premier League 2024, East Delhi Riders snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Friday as all-rounder Harsh Tyagi smashed unbeaten 17-ball 43 to lead his team into the final.

The Riders were faced with a 174-run target and they were reduced to 103/6 in the 13th over.

The Strikers, who had qualified ahead of Central Delhi Kings through a point they got from the rain-abandoned league game against East Delhi on September 4, had the table toppers on the mat.

Siddhartha Solanki, a 19-year-old pace bowler, emerged as their hero picking three wickets – Sujal Singh (13), Himmat Singh (27), and Hardik Sharma (14) – and running through the top-order.

His scalps had reduced the favourite Riders to 85/4 in the 10th over. And when Mayank Rawat (18) and Pranav Pant (6) fell, the writing was on the wall.

But Tyagi, who has the experience of playing for India under-19 – he was Player of the Final in the Asia Cup under-19 – and first class cricket for Railways and Delhi, stuck around for an opportunity.

That came in the last over of Solanki, the innings’ 16th as he read the slower deliveries well and hammered the bowler for two sixes and a four. The over cost Solanki and Strikers 22 runs.

Kavya Gupta supported him well with 15-ball 25. The duo added 74 off 30 balls, they had reached 50-run partnership in 21 balls.

“I had practiced this kind of batting in the last season, at nets and in DDCA League. I batted up the order in DDCA League. I was confident. Solanki had been using the slower delivery throughout the tournament to good effect and the only way to counter him, I thought, was to attack him,” said Tyagi after the match. 

Solanki was disconsolate after the match. He said that he should have bowled better.

“I couldn’t bowl according to the plan. I wanted to bowl outside which I couldn’t,” said Solanki, whose efforts to bowl away from batsmen resulted in wide deliveries.  

“I made a mistake. I will do better in the coming matches. I had backed my plans but the ball went here and there later, which is why I failed,” added Solanki.

East Delhi Riders celebrate after victory in the semi-finals

Strikers skipper Vaibhav Kandpal said that the bowlers did well but their inexperience in big games was exposed.

“I think the bowlers were less mature [to bowl at the crucial stage]. They gave their 100%. They were the ones brought is back in the last game and in this game. They made small mistakes. But this is a part of the game,” said Kandpal.

“The turning point was Harsh Tyagi’s knock.”

He added that they will return wiser next year.

“The way they showed character, I am really proud of the boys. We will see where we made mistakes tonight. We will go for the title next year.”

Earlier, North Delhi Strikers made 173/4 in the allotted 18 overs (reduced due to rain), with Kandpal (39), Sarthak Ranjan (30), Yajas Sharma (34), Vaibhav Rawal (29 not out) and Yash Bhatia (32 not out) contributing. Tyagi took 2/17.

Brief Scores

North Delhi Strikers 173/4 in 18 overs (Vaibhav Kandpal 39 off 26, Yajash Sharma 34 off 16, Harsh Tyagi 2/17) lost to East Delhi Riders 177/6 in 17.3 overs (Harsh Tyagi 43* off 17, Himmat Singh 27 off 18, Siddhartha Solanki 3/40)

Tags : Harsh Tyagi, Siddhartha Solanki, Delhi Premier League, Cricket, East Delhi Riders, Vaibhav Kandpal