Men’s Uttarakhand Premier League 2025: Nainital Tigers Roar Into Final After Eliminator Win Over Dehradun Warriors

Dehradun, 4 October 2025: The Nainital Tigers secured their place in the Uttarakhand Premier League 2025 Final with a convincing 20-run victory over the Dehradun Warriors in the Eliminator fixture held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun.

The Tigers posted an impressive 188/8 against Dehradun Warriors in a thrilling Eliminator, thanks to a blazing innings from Shashwat Dangwal.

After Dehradun Warriors won the toss and elected to bowl, they struck with devastating early blows, reducing Nainital to 8/3 by the third over. Opener Rahul Raj Namala fell for 4 in the opening over, before captain Bhupen Lalwani was stumped for a duck in the next over. When Aarav Mahajan departed without scoring off six deliveries in the third over, the Tigers looked in dire straits. What followed, however, was a masterclass in counter-attacking cricket, as Dangwal rose to the occasion precisely when his team needed him most.

The left-hander produced a scintillating knock of 90 off just 60 balls, laced with eight fours and five sixes. Striking at a magnificent 150, Dangwal showcased his class and temperament under pressure. He found great support in Dikshanshu Negi, and together they added a crucial 139 runs for the fourth wicket, completely changing the course of the innings.

The partnership between the duo not only steadied the innings but powered Nainital into a commanding position. Negi contributed with an explosive 32-ball 50 before his dismissal, but incoming batter Saurabh Rawat maintained the momentum with a blistering 12-ball 30. Despite losing four wickets in the last over, these crucial contributions enabled the Tigers to post a competitive total.

For Dehradun Warriors, Devendra Bora bowled with discipline to claim 2/27, while Mayank Mishra also picked up two wickets for 31 runs.

The Warriors' pursuit of 189 for victory got off to a shaky start. Captain Yuvraj Chaudhary was dismissed in the opening over itself, bowled by Shashwat Dangwal for 5. Sanskar Rawat followed shortly thereafter, caught behind by Saurabh Rawat, having managed just a solitary run. When Harsh Rana was run out through a direct hit following a mix-up in the third over, and Aanjaneya Suryavanshi caught in the following over, the Warriors had slumped to 15/4, their hopes of chasing the competitive target looking slim.

A spirited recovery attempt was mounted by the middle and lower-middle order, with Samarth Semwal and Harshit Paliwal producing valiant knocks. Their fighting innings provided temporary hope for the Warriors' cause.

Semwal, the No.4, top-scored with a quick 29-ball 58 featuring four fours and as many sixes while Paliwal made a fighting 48 from 29. Later, Shaurya Pratap Singh contributed a measured 15* from 17 balls, while Mayank Mishra's late cameo of 6* runs from just 2 deliveries demonstrated the Warriors' determination to fight until the final delivery before they were restricted to 168/8.

Vishal Kumar Saini delivered an outstanding bowling performance for the Tigers, claiming two crucial wickets while conceding merely 31 runs from his four overs. Shashwat Dangwal, continuing his all-round excellence, struck early to remove the opposition captain and finished with figures of 1/18 from his two overs.

Shashwat Dangwal was awarded the Player of the Match for the third time for his brilliant batting performance, scoring 90 of just 60 deliveries.