Cuttack: The rains refuse to go away, playing spoilsport in the inaugural Odisha Pro T20 League (OPTL) 2025.
Sunday’s first game, between Sambalpur Warriors and Bhubaneswar Tigers, was abandoned without a ball bowled at the Barabati Stadium. The no-result meant the teams were awarded 2 points each.
On Saturday, too, the afternoon match between Cuttack Panthers and Rourkela Steelers was a non-starter. The weathergods relented just in time for a curtailed contest in Saturday’s evening fixture.
Sambalpur came out on top in the 5-overs-a-side shootout, getting the better of Puri Titans by 7 wickets with 5 balls to spare.
Skipper Subhranshu Senapati’s unbeaten 35 off 12 balls guided Sambalpur to 49/3 in 4.1 overs after Puri had managed to post 48/5 in 5 overs.
Sambalpur began the chase disastrously, losing two wickets without a run on the board. But the experienced Subhranshu pulled off some thrilling shots to guide his team over the line with a match-winning knock.
“After losing two wickets in the first over, the pressure really built up. But I must give full credit to the bowlers. The way they bowled on a ground which was very wet, making it very difficult to grip the ball… they were wonderful,” Subhranshu said.
Sambalpur Warriors lead the standings with 10 points.
