Bengal T20 League: Purulia bowlers seal semifinal spot with 8-run win over Malda
Synopsis
Purulia's bowlers did what their batters couldn't do alone — Mithilesh Das (3-18) and Pradipta Pramanik (3-20) defended a modest 139 to send Malda packing by 8 runs in a last-over thriller at Eden Gardens, making Purulia the third team into the Bengal T20 League Season 3 semifinals.
Key Takeaways
Novus Royals Purulia beat Sobisco Smashers Malda by 8 runs at Eden Gardens on 17 June .
Purulia become the third team to qualify for the Bengal T20 League Season 3 semifinals.
Yuvraj Deepak Keshwani top-scored for Purulia with 40 off 28 balls ; Purulia posted 139/8 in 20 overs.
Mithilesh Das (3-18) and Pradipta Pramanik (3-20) were the standout bowlers for Purulia.
Malda's Prayas Ray Barman top-scored in the chase with 32 off 28 balls but Malda fell short at 131/8 .
Novus Royals Purulia clinched a hard-fought 8-run victory over Sobisco Smashers Malda at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday, 17 June, booking their place in the Bengal T20 League Season 3 semifinals. The win makes Purulia the third team to advance to the last four, joining Malda and Shrachi Rarh Tigers in the knockout stage.
Purulia's Batting Effort
Electing to bat first, Purulia posted 139/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Yuvraj Deepak Keshwani anchored the innings with a top score of 40 off 28 balls, while Ankur Paul and Priyam Sarkar contributed useful runs to help the side reach a competitive total. For Malda, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Ramesh Prasad, and Prayas Ray Barman each claimed two wickets.
Malda's Chase Falls Short
Chasing 140, Malda kept themselves in the hunt until the final over but ultimately finished on 131/8, falling 8 runs short. Prayas Ray Barman top-scored in the chase with 32 off 28 balls, but his effort was not enough to push Malda over the line. It was yet another last-over thriller in what has been a tightly contested group stage.
Purulia's Bowlers Steal the Show
Mithilesh Das was the pick of Purulia's attack, returning figures of 3 for 18, while Pradipta Pramanik was equally impressive with 3 for 20. Ravi Kumar and Pritam Chakraborty each chipped in with a wicket to seal a memorable win for their side.
About the Bengal T20 League
The Bengal T20 League is a franchise-based T20 competition organised under the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Now in its third season, the tournament 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 in both men's and women's competitions. Men's matches are played at Eden Gardens, while women's matches are held at the JU Salt Lake Campus, Kolkata.
Brief Scores
Novus Royals Purulia 139/8 in 20 overs (Yuvraj Deepak Keshwani 40) beat Sobisco Smashers Malda 131/8 in 20 overs (Prayas Ray Barman 32; Mithilesh Das 3-18, Pradipta Pramanik 3-20) by 8 runs.
Point of View
Yet Das and Pramanik made it count by combining for six wickets and conceding under 40 runs between them. Malda, despite having Prayas Ray Barman in both camps — two wickets with the ball and the top score with the bat — could not find a finisher. The Bengal T20 League's group stage has produced a string of last-over finishes, which is good for the competition's credibility, but the semifinals will test whether any team has the all-round depth to win convincingly rather than merely survive.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Bengal T20 League match between Purulia and Malda on 17 June?
Novus Royals Purulia won, beating Sobisco Smashers Malda by 8 runs at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 17 June. Purulia posted 139/8 and restricted Malda to 131/8 in 20 overs.
Which teams have qualified for the Bengal T20 League Season 3 semifinals?
Three teams have qualified so far: Sobisco Smashers Malda, Shrachi Rarh Tigers, and Novus Royals Purulia. The fourth semifinalist is yet to be determined.
Who were the top performers in the Purulia vs Malda Bengal T20 League match?
Yuvraj Deepak Keshwani top-scored for Purulia with 40 off 28 balls, while Mithilesh Das (3-18) and Pradipta Pramanik (3-20) were the standout bowlers. For Malda, Prayas Ray Barman took two wickets and top-scored with 32 in the chase.
Where are Bengal T20 League Season 3 matches played?
Men's matches in the Bengal T20 League Season 3 are held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, while women's matches take place at the JU Salt Lake Campus in Kolkata. The league is organised by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
What is the Bengal T20 League?
The Bengal T20 League is a CAB-organised franchise T20 competition featuring eight city-based teams representing West Bengal. Now in its third season, it runs parallel men's and women's competitions across the state's major cricketing centres.
