Hyderabad e-Champions opened their TG20 Season 1 account with a commanding 7-wicket victory over Palamuru Strikers in Match 4 of the Hyderabad Cricket Association tournament at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad, on Tuesday, 23 June. Half-centuries from Anvith Reddy (53 off 42) and Ganesh Gadugu (50 off 30), built on Ajay Dev Goud's tournament-first four-wicket haul, powered the e-Champions to their opening win of the season.

Strikers Bundled Out for 141

Palamuru Strikers made a brisk start, with Vignesh Reddy going on the offensive and plundering 21 runs off Kappaganti Sriniketh in the third over. Yashveer Goud stemmed the flow by dismissing Chaitanya Reddy (5 off 7) in the fourth over, before Pranav Varma removed Vignesh (30 off 17) to leave Strikers at 50/2 after the powerplay.

Pragnay Reddy (9 off 12) fell in the ninth over, with Ganesh taking a sharp catch off Ajay's bowling. Rohit Rayudu provided brief resistance with a quickfire 35 off 22 before Sriniketh sent him back in the twelfth over. Pratheek Pawar's 30 off 22 was the other notable contribution, but Strikers could not sustain pressure and lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs, folding for 141 all out in 19.4 overs.

Ajay Dev Goud was the standout bowler, claiming 4/21 — the first four-wicket haul of TG20 Season 1 — with clever variations. Spinners Yashveer Goud (2/15) and Pranav Varma (2/25) provided strong support.

Tricky Start to the Chase

The e-Champions' run chase began under pressure. Rishab Baslas delivered a wicket-maiden in the second over, dismissing Sai Vikas Reddy (1 off 4). Captain Abhirath Reddy launched a counter-attack, smashing 24 runs in the third over en route to a blistering 35 off 13 balls, featuring 5 fours and 2 sixes, before holing out to Rishab. Ravi Kiran then removed Yashveer in the fifth over, leaving e-Champions at 55/3 at the end of the powerplay.

Anvith and Ganesh Seal It in a Flurry

With their side in a precarious position, Anvith Reddy and Ganesh Gadugu steadied the chase before shifting gears decisively. The pair stitched together an unbeaten 92-run partnership off 60 balls, keeping the required run rate in check before accelerating at the death. Anvith finished on 53 off 42 while Ganesh blazed to 50 off 30, guiding e-Champions to 147/3 in 20 overs and a comprehensive seven-wicket triumph.

Brief Scores

Palamuru Strikers 141 all out in 19.4 overs (Rohit Rayudu 35, Vignesh Reddy 30; Ajay Dev Goud 4/21) lost to Hyderabad e-Champions 147/3 in 20 overs (Anvith Reddy 53*, Ganesh Gadugu 50*; Rishab Baslas 2/17) by 7 wickets.

The result gives Hyderabad e-Champions an early foothold in the TG20 Season 1 standings, with the tournament set to continue at the same venue.