Raipur Blue secures 1-wicket victory over Bilaspur in nail-biting contest

Raipur: In a dramatic first semi-final clash held in Bhilai, Raipur Blue edged past Bilaspur by just one wicket in a thrilling finish to book their place in the final of the Senior Elite Group Inter District Multi Day Tournament 2024-25, organised by Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh ahead of the state's Ranji Trophy team selection.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Raipur Blue bowled out Bilaspur for 184 runs in 63.1 overs. Md Irfan was the standout performer for Bilaspur with a solid 85-run knock, while Abhisekh Sohgaura added 38. For Raipur Blue, Varun Singh Bhuie wreaked havoc with a five-wicket haul, supported by Pawandeep Singh who took 3 wickets.
In response, Raipur Blue managed 189 runs in 58.1 overs, securing a slender 5-run lead. Avnish Singh Dhaliwal (45) and Rishi Sharma (43) guided the innings, while Bilaspur's Mayank Yadav claimed 6 wickets in a fiery spell.
In the second innings, Bilaspur posted 159 runs in 48.1 overs, with Abhisekh Sohgaura once again contributing crucial runs (39). Pawandeep Singh struck again for Raipur Blue with 3 wickets.
Set a target of 155, Raipur Blue chased it down in 45.1 overs but not without a scare. Ashish Dahariya's 39 and an unbeaten 26 by Pawandeep Singh helped guide their team to victory with just one wicket to spare. Bilaspur's Mohit Raut (4 wickets) and Atul Sharma (3 wickets) kept the pressure on till the end. Raipur Blue emerged victorious in a nail-biting contest and sealed their spot in the tournament final.
Meanwhile, Harsh Sharma's 158-run knock steered Bhilai to secure a spot in the final. The match, played at Rajnandgaon, saw Raipur electing to bat first and posting 340 runs, with Rishabh Tiwari (79) and Prateek Yadav (66) leading the charge. Bhilai responded emphatically, piling up 679 runs in 171.4 overs, led by a stellar 158-run knock from Harsh. He was well-supported by Sanjeet Desai (93) and Binny Samuel (91).
Raipur, trailing by 339 runs, ended their second innings at 100 without loss, with Ayush Pandey scoring an unbeaten 75. Despite the draw, Bhilai advanced to the final on first-innings advantage. The tournament is crucial ahead of the state's Ranji Trophy team selection. The final will be played between Raipur Blue and Bhilai at Rajnandgaon from April 13.