Match Details
Chasing a modest 208, Himachal Pradesh got off to a brisk start. Both the openers, Shubham Arora and Prashant Chopra started slowly and the plan was to negotiate the new ball. The surface had something in it for the pacers and Bhuvneshwar Kumar kept it tight in the initial few overs. The duo added 54 for the first wicket and laid a solid foundation for the middle order batters to follow. The 54 run stand was followed by yet another solid partnership between Chopra and Nikhil Gangta that really set the tone for the rest of the game.
When Gangta walked out to bat after the dismissal of Arora, the situation was a bit tricky for HP, but he soaked up the pressure and took the attack to the opposition. Chopra joined the party, but was sent back on 99, one run shy of a terrific century. By the time he was dismissed, the game was almost done and dusted. But a late hiccup sparked a ray of hope for UP, but the match was always in the grasp of Himachal. Uttar Pradesh will be disappointed with how things panned out. They were the heavy favourites for this clash, but now have to pack their bags.