Himateja's maiden ton powers Khammam Aces to TG20 playoffs with 19-run win
Synopsis
Himateja Kodimela's maiden T20 century — an unbeaten 103 off 57 balls — did more than win a match on 6 July; it shot him to the top of TG20 Season 1's Orange Cap standings and sent Khammam Aces into the playoffs. Medak Falcons, undone by three pairs of wickets, ended their campaign with just one win.
Key Takeaways
Himateja Kodimela scored an unbeaten 103 off 57 balls — his maiden century in TG20 Season 1 — on 6 July .
Anvita Khammam Aces posted 190/5 and won by 19 runs , confirming their place in the top four .
Himateja now leads the Orange Cap standings with 430 runs , ahead of Abhirath Reddy 's 379 .
Vidyananda Reddy (2/7), Wafi Kachchhi (2/15), and Harshith Sai (2/31) each took two wickets to restrict Falcons to 171/7 .
Shrunjith Reddy top-scored for Falcons with 60 runs ; Ishan Sharma hit an unbeaten 34 off 15 in a losing cause.
Medak Falcons ended the group stage with just one win .
Himateja Kodimela struck an unbeaten 103 off 57 balls — his maiden century in TG20 Season 1 — to propel Anvita Khammam Aces into the tournament's top four with a 19-run victory over Medak Falcons in Hyderabad on Monday, 6 July. The win, played under the Hyderabad Cricket Association banner, confirmed the Aces' playoff berth ahead of a crucial evening fixture between E-Champions and Nalgonda Knights.
Himateja's Masterclass at the Top
Himateja Kodimela reached his half-century off just 24 balls and went on to complete his century in 55 balls, a knock laced with 11 fours and four sixes. His innings catapulted him to the summit of the Orange Cap standings with 430 runs, overtaking Hyderabad E-Champions captain Abhirath Reddy, who had accumulated 379 runs.
The Aces were tested early — G Sai Krishna Reddy fell for a duck on the third ball, and Wafi Kachchhi departed for 14 off 8 in the third over, leaving the side at 27/2. Mickil Jaiswal steadied the ship with a 32-run stand in 21 balls alongside Himateja before Arjun Gorrapalli broke the partnership after the powerplay.
Prateek Reddy then joined Himateja for a crucial 99-run stand, before rain halted play. After resumption, Madhukar Manne dismissed Prateek for 32 off 29 in the eighteenth over. Himateja and skipper CV Milind (14* off 9) added an unbeaten 32 runs in the final two overs to take the Aces to 190/5 in 20 overs.
Aces' Bowlers Dismantle Falcons' Chase
Medak Falcons began their chase at a brisk clip — Naman Agarwal (32 off 19) and Shrunjith Reddy put on 57 runs in the first five overs. However, left-arm spinner Vidyananda Reddy delivered a decisive blow in the final over of the powerplay, dismissing both Naman and Falcons skipper Ravi Teja in three balls to swing momentum decisively toward the Aces.
Shrunjith Reddy registered a half-century off 39 balls, but Wafi Kachchhi struck twice in the fifteenth over to send Shrunjith and Sai Varun Yerram back to the pavilion, leaving Falcons reeling at 113/5. N Surya Teja contributed 26 off 19, before Harshith Sai took two wickets in the eighteenth over. Ishan Sharma's spirited 34* off 15 balls at the death was not enough as Falcons finished at 171/7, falling 19 runs short.
Vidyananda Reddy (2/7), Wafi Kachchhi (2/15), and Harshith Sai (2/31) each claimed two wickets to share the bowling honours.
Brief Scores
Anvita Khammam Aces 190/5 in 20 overs (Himateja Kodimela 103*, Prateek Reddy 32; Ravi Teja 2/48) beat Medak Falcons 171/7 in 20 overs (Shrunjith Reddy 60, Ishan Sharma 34*; Vidyananda Reddy 2/7, Wafi Kachchhi 2/15, Harshith Sai 2/31) by 19 runs.
What This Means for the Tournament
The Aces' playoff qualification adds further intrigue to the TG20 Season 1 standings, with the top-four picture set to be shaped further by the day's second match between Hyderabad E-Champions and Anurag Nalgonda Knights. Medak Falcons, meanwhile, concluded their campaign with just a single win.
Point of View
Not a dead-rubber game. The Aces' bowling unit is equally telling — three separate pairs of wickets across three bowlers suggest a depth that one-man batting sides rarely survive in knockout cricket. Medak Falcons' single win from the group stage reflects a campaign that never found the bowling-batting cohesion the format demands.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Khammam Aces qualify for the TG20 Season 1 playoffs?
Yes, Anvita Khammam Aces confirmed their place in the top four of TG20 Season 1 with a 19-run win over Medak Falcons on 6 July. The victory secured their playoff berth under the Hyderabad Cricket Association's tournament.
How did Himateja Kodimela perform against Medak Falcons?
Himateja Kodimela scored an unbeaten 103 off 57 balls, his maiden century in TG20 Season 1, including 11 fours and four sixes. The knock propelled him to the top of the Orange Cap standings with 430 runs.
What was the final score in Khammam Aces vs Medak Falcons?
Anvita Khammam Aces posted 190/5 in 20 overs and restricted Medak Falcons to 171/7, winning by 19 runs. Shrunjith Reddy top-scored for Falcons with 60, while Ishan Sharma hit an unbeaten 34 off 15 at the death.
Who leads the TG20 Season 1 Orange Cap standings?
Himateja Kodimela of Anvita Khammam Aces leads with 430 runs after his maiden century on 6 July. He overtook Hyderabad E-Champions captain Abhirath Reddy, who had 379 runs.
How did Medak Falcons' TG20 Season 1 campaign end?
Medak Falcons concluded their TG20 Season 1 group-stage campaign with just one win. Despite a solid start to their chase against Khammam Aces, regular wicket-taking spells from Vidyananda Reddy, Wafi Kachchhi, and Harshith Sai ended their run-chase 19 runs short.
