Mohali: The rivalry between Indian teammates Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma delivered another high-scoring thriller in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League, with Abhishek’s Amritsar Soormas once again getting the better of Gill’s Fazilka Falcons.
Amritsar chased down Fazilka’s 191/6 to register a four-wicket victory at the I.S. Bindra Stadium, securing their second win over the Falcons this season and keeping their campaign firmly alive.
Put in to bat, Fazilka initially found themselves in trouble after losing two wickets for 20 runs. Gill, however, took control of the innings.
The Falcons skipper smashed a fluent 67 off 35 balls, combining aggression with calculated strokeplay. He received valuable support from Pranshu Pratap, who scored 40 off 33, while Sanvir Singh provided the late acceleration with a quick 40 off 21 balls.
The contributions helped Fazilka recover and finish with a competitive 191/6 from their 20 overs.
For Amritsar, Akash Pandey impressed with 2/20, while Abhishek Sharma picked up 2/37.
If Gill had provided the Falcons with the perfect start, Abhishek responded in spectacular fashion.
Opening the chase, the Amritsar captain smashed 49 runs from just 15 deliveries, immediately putting Fazilka's bowlers under pressure.
Abhishek and Sahaj Dhawan, who scored 37, added 79 runs for the opening wicket, giving the Soormas the kind of start they needed in a chase of 192.
But the chase suddenly became complicated.
Amritsar slipped to 152/5, leaving the game hanging in the balance.
With the pressure mounting, young batter Rahul Kumar produced the defining innings of the match.
Joining Reaven Preet Singh at a crucial stage, Kumar avoided unnecessary risks while keeping the required rate under control. After Reaven departed for 8, Kumar continued the recovery alongside Jashanpreet Singh.
He eventually finished unbeaten on 53 off 35 balls, including five fours and two sixes, guiding Amritsar across the finish line without further drama.
The victory meant the Soormas had now defeated the Falcons twice this season.
After the victory, Abhishek made it clear that Amritsar aren't satisfied with simply beating their star-studded rivals.
The Soormas captain said the team wants to carry its momentum forward and ultimately win the Sher-e-Punjab T20 trophy.
Abhishek also praised his squad's hard work and credited the fans for their continued support.
Rahul Kumar, meanwhile, described the back-to-back victories over Fazilka as a major achievement and credited the team's ability to pick up early wickets.
There is little time for Amritsar to celebrate.
The Soormas are scheduled to face the Mohali Kings next, with the team hoping that Rahul Kumar's finishing form and Abhishek's explosive batting can continue to drive their campaign.
For now, though, the message from the Soormas camp is clear: Gill's Falcons have been beaten again — and Abhishek's men are chasing something bigger than bragging rights.
The trophy is the target.
