NDT vs NDS, Review । Lakshay Thareja's unbeaten half-century helps Tigers beat Strikers in last league match

After opting to bat first, the Strikers had a blistering opening start of 61 runs in just 6.1 overs by the pair of Sarthak Ranjan and Arnav Bugga (14). This partnership was dominantly led by Sarthak, who continued keeping the run rate over 10, with some outstanding boundaries throughout the powerplay. He also smashed 16 runs in the last over of the powerplay. The Tigers’ skipper, Himmat Singh, ended this partnership immediately after the end of powerplay. Himmat dismissed Arnav Bugga, trapping him in an LBW on the first ball of the seventh over. Vaibhav Kandpal (14) also fell cheaply after the addition of just 17 runs in the team’s score, taking it to 88/2 in 9.4 overs. Himmat shone once again with the ball, dismissing Yash Dabas (7) in the next over of Kandpal’s dismissal. Gagan Vats (9) also failed to live up to the expectations, getting dismissed off Prince Yadav’s bowling in the 14th over. However, Gagan stitched a 31-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Sarthak Ranjan. Meanwhile, it was Sarthak who held one end strongly kept neutralising the loss of wickets, with his sensational power-hitting. Later in the middle and death overs, Sarthak stitched a much-needed partnership of 37 runs for the fifth wicket with Arjun Rapria (unbeaten 47 off 23 balls). Sarthak completed his century in the 17th over, taking a single after hitting Prince Yadav to mid-wicket before getting dismissed in the next over off Pankaj Jaswal. Sarthak played an amazing knock of 100 runs off just 58 balls, with seven fours and seven sixes. These contributions helped the Strikers post 199/6 in the allotted 20 overs. Prince Yadav and Himmat Singh scalped two wickets each for the Tigers, alongside a wicket each picked by Jaswal and Aatrey Tripathi.

While chasing the target, the Tigers’ opening duo of Shivam Gupta and Lakshay Thaerja stitched a swashbuckling opening partnership of 46 runs in just 4.1 overs. This partnership was completely dominated by Shivam, who smashed 31 runs off just 18 balls, with four fours and two sixes, before falling prey to Siddhantha Solanki on the first ball of the fifth over.  Then came another blistering partnership of 54 runs for the second wicket between Lakshay and Himmat (34 runs off 22 balls). Vaibhav Kandpal broke this partnership by dismissing Himmat on the fourth ball of the 10th over, getting him caught by Vikas Dixit. Furthermore, Lakshay and Dhruv Kaushik added a match-defining and decisive partnership of 71 runs for the third wicket before Dhruv’s fiery knock of 41 runs off just 25 balls ended in the 17th over. He was dismissed by Prabhjot Singh in the 17th over. Lakshay went on to play an unbeaten and match-winning knock of 80 runs off just 48 balls, with two fours and five sixes. The collective batting brilliance helped the Tigers chase the target on the last ball of the game, scoring 200/4 in the entire 20 overs. Vaibhav Kandpal was the only bowler to put in an effort for his side, scalping two wickets for just 19 runs in his four overs, but his efforts went in vain as the Tigers successfully crossed the line. With this win, the New Delhi Tigers ended their DPL 2025 campaign, with five wins and as many defeats in their 10 games, finishing at the fifth spot in the tournament standings.

Lakshay Thareja won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his outstanding knock of 80 runs off just 48 balls, hitting two fours and five sixes. His knock played a central role in the Tigers’ six-wicket win over the Strikers.