Wicketkeeper batsman Nakul Verma struck a superb 63 to help Services beat Odisha by four wickets in their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 cricket match here today.
Chasing a target of 177, Verma and Anshul Gupta (39) stitched 107 runs in 11.3 overs for the opening wicket to lay the foundation for the Services win at the DRIEMS Ground at Tangi here.
Verma, who was the first Services batsman to be dismissed, hit eight boundaries and a six in his 39-ball innings before he was run out.
Services lost the next five wickets for the addition of 52 runs but in the end, they overhauled the target with four ball to spare, reaching 177 for 6 in 19.2 overs.
For Odisha, Deepak Behera and Biplab Samantray took two wickets apiece while Basant Mohanty got one wicket.
Earlier, Odisha scored 176 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs after being sent into bat. Abhishek Yadav led the charge with a 33-ball 52 which he made with the help of five boundaries and three sixes.
Captain Govinda Poddar also impressed with a 24-ball unbeaten 42 which he made with the help of three boundaries and as many sixes. Opener Abhilash Mallick (30) and Biplab Samantray (35) were the other notable contributors.
For Services, Raushan Raj, Ritesh Negi and Avishek Sinha took a wicket apiece.
Brief Scores:
Odisha: 176/4 in 20 overs (Abhishek Yadav 52; Avishek Sinha 1/18)
Services: 177/6 in 19.2 overs (Nakul Verma 63; Biplab Samantray 2/21, Deepak Behera 2/39).
