Sourav Halder's hat-trick powers Royal Tigers to first Bengal T20 win
Synopsis
A hat-trick in the 13th over by Sourav Halder — only the second in Bengal T20 League history after Md Shami this season — rescued Kolkata Royal Tigers from a near-certain defeat and delivered a nail-biting one-run victory over Siliguri Strikers. With Pramod Chandila's late cameo nearly pulling off the chase, the margin of error could not have been thinner.
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Royal Tigers beat Servotech Siliguri Strikers by 1 run at Eden Gardens on 15 June .
Sourav Halder took a hat-trick in the 13th over and finished with 4 for 22 , becoming only the second bowler in Bengal T20 League history to claim a hat-trick.
Abishek Porel top-scored for Royal Tigers with 76 off 53 ; Karan led Siliguri Strikers' chase with 46 off 35 .
Siliguri Strikers needed 2 runs off the last ball but were bowled out for 146/7 , falling one run short of the 148-run target.
This was Royal Tigers' first victory of Bengal T20 League Season 3 .
Sourav Halder's stunning hat-trick in the 13th over turned the tide for Kolkata Royal Tigers, who edged Servotech Siliguri Strikers by just one run to claim their first victory of Bengal T20 League Season 3 at Eden Gardens on Monday, 15 June. Chasing 148, Siliguri Strikers fell agonisingly short at 146/7 in 20 overs.
Royal Tigers' Innings: Porel Anchors the Chase
Put in to bat, Kolkata Royal Tigers posted a competitive 147/9 in 20 overs. Abishek Porel's aggressive 76 off 53 balls was the cornerstone of the innings, with Ritwik Roy Chowdhury contributing a handy 33 off 27. Siliguri Strikers' bowling unit was disciplined in response — Ishan Porel claimed 3 for 24, while Geet Puri (2-28) and Kaushik Maity (2-17) also made inroads.
Siliguri Strikers' Chase and Halder's Decisive Hat-Trick
Karan's brisk 46 off 35 and Sudip Chatterjee's steady 35 off 31 gave Siliguri Strikers a confident platform. Vishal Bhati added 18 off 15 to keep the required rate in check. However, against the run of play, Halder struck in the 13th over, dismissing Vishal off the fourth ball and then sending back Snehasish Saha (0) and Badal Singh Balyan (0) off successive deliveries. The hat-trick made Halder only the second bowler in the league's history to achieve the feat, after Md Shami earlier in the same season.
Final Over Drama Seals the Deal
Pramod Chandila's counter-attacking 35 off 23 kept Siliguri Strikers in the hunt, but Sayan Ghosh bagged two crucial wickets in the final over to snuff out the chase. Halder finished as the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 22, while Ghosh (2-25) and Ashutosh Kumar (1-25) provided solid support.
About the Bengal T20 League
The Bengal T20 League is a franchise-based T20 competition organised under the aegis of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Now in its third season, the league features eight city-based franchises — Adamas Howrah Warriors, Novus Royals Purulia, Kolkata Royal Tigers, Murshidabad Kings & Kueens, Rashmi Nes Medinipur Wizards, Servotech Siliguri Strikers, Shrachi Rarh Tigers, and Sobisco Smashers Malda — competing across men's and women's competitions. Men's matches are played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with women's fixtures held at the JU Salt Lake Campus, Kolkata.
Brief Scores: Kolkata Royal Tigers 147/9 in 20 overs (Abishek Porel 76, Ritwik Roy Chowdhury 33; Ishan Porel 3-24, Geet Puri 2-28, Kaushik Maity 2-17) beat Servotech Siliguri Strikers 146/7 in 20 overs (Karan 46, Sudip Chatterjee 35, Pramod Chandila 35; Sourav Halder 4-22, Sayan Ghosh 2-25) by 1 run.
Point of View
And Halder's hat-trick arriving mid-chase — rather than at the death — underscores how a single over can rewrite a match's arithmetic entirely. What is equally notable is that the Bengal T20 League has now produced two hat-tricks in a single season, with Md Shami having set the benchmark earlier. For a domestic franchise league competing for attention against the IPL calendar, moments like these are exactly the kind of narrative capital that builds viewership. Royal Tigers' relief at ending their wait for a first win will, however, be tempered by the knowledge that their batting only scraped to 147 — a total that nearly wasn't enough.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who took a hat-trick in the Bengal T20 League match on 15 June?
Sourav Halder of Kolkata Royal Tigers took the hat-trick in the 13th over, dismissing Vishal Bhati, Snehasish Saha, and Badal Singh Balyan off consecutive deliveries. He finished with figures of 4 for 22 and is only the second bowler in Bengal T20 League history to achieve the feat.
What was the result of the Royal Tigers vs Siliguri Strikers match?
Kolkata Royal Tigers won by 1 run at Eden Gardens on 15 June. Royal Tigers posted 147/9 in 20 overs and Siliguri Strikers fell short at 146/7 in 20 overs.
Who was the top scorer for Kolkata Royal Tigers?
Abishek Porel top-scored for Royal Tigers with 76 off 53 balls. Ritwik Roy Chowdhury added 33 off 27 as the second-highest contributor.
Who else has taken a hat-trick in the Bengal T20 League?
Md Shami took a hat-trick earlier in Bengal T20 League Season 3, making Sourav Halder the second bowler in the league's history to achieve the feat — both in the same season.
What is the Bengal T20 League?
The Bengal T20 League is a franchise-based T20 cricket competition organised by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), now in its third season. It features eight city-based franchises from across West Bengal, with men's matches held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
