Odisha T20 League: Bhubaneswar Tigers beat Keonjhar Miners by 7 runs via DLS
Synopsis
In a match repeatedly reshaped by rain, Bhubaneswar Tigers needed their left-arm spinner Badal Biswal to defend 18 off the final over to edge past Keonjhar Miners by seven runs via DLS at Barabati Stadium. Swastik Samal's 42 off 18 balls earlier set the platform — but it was Biswal's nerves of steel that sealed it.
Key Takeaways
Bhubaneswar Tigers beat Keonjhar Miners by seven runs via DLS at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on 21 September 2026 .
The match was twice interrupted by rain, eventually reduced to a 4-over chase for Keonjhar with a revised target of 48 runs .
Captain Swastik Samal top-scored for Tigers with a blazing 42 off 18 balls , winning the Moment of the Match award.
Left-arm spinner Badal Biswal defended the final over to clinch the win and claimed the Player of the Match award.
Vimal Kumar was Keonjhar's best bowler with figures of 2/8 ; Subhranshu Senapati top-scored in the chase.
Bhubaneswar Tigers edged out Keonjhar Miners by seven runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a rain-curtailed encounter of the Odisha T20 League – CM Trophy at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, on Monday, 21 September 2026. The result keeps Tigers' campaign on track in one of Odisha's marquee franchise tournaments.
A Match Defined by Rain
The contest was trimmed to 15 overs per side before a ball was bowled, owing to a wet outfield. Bhubaneswar Tigers were motoring at 64/3 in seven overs when rain intervened a second time, forcing officials to invoke the DLS method once more. Keonjhar Miners were eventually handed a revised target of 48 runs from four overs when play resumed — a steep ask, though not impossible on a flat surface at the iconic venue that has hosted international cricket.
Swastik Samal's Explosive Half-Century Sets the Tone
Tigers captain and opener Swastik Samal was the standout batter, blasting 42 off just 18 balls to give his side a blistering platform. His aggressive stroke-play kept the run rate above nine an over and put the bowlers on the back foot from the opening delivery. Samal was eventually dismissed, but not before doing the heavy lifting his side needed. For Keonjhar, Vimal Kumar was the most effective bowler, returning figures of 2/8 from his allotted over, while Jogeswar Bag chipped in with 1/6.
Keonjhar Chase Falls Short Despite Fight
Keonjhar's reply got off to a shaky start when Kshyama S Bal fell cheaply for 3 off 6 balls. Rajesh Dhupam and Miners captain Subhranshu Senapati then combined for a 20-run partnership to inject some hope into the chase. However, Senapati's dismissal for 11 off 9 balls left the lower order needing 18 runs from the final over — a mountain in the circumstances.
Badal Biswal Seals It With a Composed Last Over
Left-arm spinner Badal Biswal was handed the ball for the final over with the match on the line. He held his nerve to concede fewer than the required runs, securing the victory for the Tigers and earning the Player of the Match award. Swastik Samal was recognised separately with the Moment of the Match award for his explosive knock at the top of the order.
Reflecting on the win, Biswal said, 'Everyone in the team has been very supportive, and the atmosphere has been excellent. The coaches, captain, support staff and owners have given us a lot of confidence and made us feel that we are in it together, regardless of the result. That backing helped us stay calm, especially when we had to defend in the final four overs. Our goal is clear, we want to win this tournament.'
With the tournament progressing, Bhubaneswar Tigers will be eager to build on this hard-fought victory as they push for a place in the knockout stages of the CM Trophy.
Point of View
And this contest at Barabati was no different — Keonjhar were denied the chance to bat through a full innings and set their own rhythm. That said, the Tigers deserved credit for posting a rapid 64/3 in seven overs and then deploying Biswal at the death — a clear sign of tactical awareness from their captain Samal. The Odisha T20 League – CM Trophy has quietly become an important talent showcase for state cricket, and moments like Biswal's composed final over are precisely what selectors at the next tier will note. Whether DLS remains the right tool for ultra-short T20 formats is a conversation Indian domestic cricket has been deferring for too long.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Odisha T20 League match between Bhubaneswar Tigers and Keonjhar Miners?
Bhubaneswar Tigers won the match by seven runs via the DLS method at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, on 21 September 2026. The match was curtailed by rain on two separate occasions.
What was Swastik Samal's score in the Odisha T20 League match?
Swastik Samal, captain and opener for Bhubaneswar Tigers, scored a rapid 42 off just 18 balls. His aggressive knock set up the team's total and earned him the Moment of the Match award.
Why was the DLS method applied in the Bhubaneswar Tigers vs Keonjhar Miners match?
Rain disrupted play twice — first reducing the match to 15 overs per side, then halting Bhubaneswar Tigers' innings at 64/3 in seven overs. The DLS method was used to set Keonjhar Miners a revised target of 48 runs from four overs.
Who won the Player of the Match award?
Left-arm spinner Badal Biswal won the Player of the Match award for defending the final over, conceding fewer than the 18 runs Keonjhar needed to win. He received the award from Srimanta Panda, Director of Bharat Masala.
What is the Odisha T20 League – CM Trophy?
The Odisha T20 League – CM Trophy is a franchise-based T20 cricket tournament held in Odisha, India. Matches are played at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, a venue that has previously hosted international cricket fixtures.
