Warangal Warriors registered their first victory in Season 1 of the TG20 on Wednesday, 24 June, defeating Anvita Khammam Aces by five wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad. Opener Harshit Choudhary was the architect of the chase, carrying his bat with a stunning unbeaten 121 off 62 balls as Warriors overhauled a target of 203 in a nerve-shredding finish.

Aces Post 202 on the Back of Twin Fifties

Anvita Khammam Aces were off to a blistering start, with Wafi Kachchhi and Mayank Gupta plundering 10 runs off the opening over. Wafi struck consecutive sixes off Mohd. Abdul Malik in the second over before the bowler struck back to dismiss the 19-year-old and hand Warriors an early breakthrough.

Mayank then combined with Himateja Kodimela (23 off 13) for a quickfire 47-run stand off 24 balls, exploiting the powerplay with expert precision. Abdul Malik returned to dismiss Himateja in the final over of the powerplay, leaving Aces at 60/2. Prateek Reddy (20 off 11) kept the momentum going alongside Mayank before Murugan Abhishek removed him in the ninth over, with the score at 104/3.

The innings' defining phase saw Mayank and Mickil Jaiswal both reach their half-centuries — Mayank with a well-constructed 54 off 36, and Mickil in explosive fashion with 54 off 22, laced with 7 sixes and a boundary. Abhishek broke the stand in the 15th over, triggering a collapse that saw the Aces lose six wickets for just 27 runs. Abdul Malik (3/35) and Abhishek (3/54) led the Warriors' bowling attack, with Pallepati Kranthi (2/42) and Mudassar (1/30) also contributing as Aces were bundled out for 202.

Harshit Choudhary Anchors the Chase

Warriors openers blazed out of the blocks, posting 28 runs in the first two overs with Harshit setting the tone. Mahesh Vipparla gave Aces a breakthrough in the third over, dismissing Aman Rao Perala (7 off 4) — the player who had scored the fastest century in T20 domestic leagues in the previous game against Medak Falcons.

A pivotal moment arrived in the fourth over when Harshit was dropped on 32. He made full use of that lifeline, combining with Rishiket Sisodia in a 51-run stand off 29 balls to keep the required run rate in check, as Warriors reached 77/1 at the end of the powerplay.

16-year-old Ved Reddy broke the stand in the eighth over, removing Rishiket (27 off 16) to give Aces a glimmer of hope. Harshit then brought up a composed 50 off 28 balls, even as Bhavesh Seth (15 off 13) and Anirudh Srivatsa (14 off 10) fell in quick succession to Saaketh Dhatrak, keeping the contest alive.

Century and Calm Under Pressure

As the match went down to the wire, Harshit displayed remarkable maturity, reaching his century in just 48 balls. Aces captain C.V. Milind removed Abhishek (5 off 4) in the 18th over, but Harshit held his nerve. A handy cameo from Adi Mani Kiran (14 off 4) provided the finishing touch, sealing a five-wicket win for the Warriors and their first points of the season.

What This Win Means for the TG20

The Warriors' opening victory signals a competitive start to TG20 Season 1, with individual performances already standing out — Harshit's unbeaten century and the twin fifties from Mayank and Mickil making this one of the tournament's most entertaining contests so far. Both sides will be looking to build on their performances as the season progresses.