CCL 2025: Semi-final 1 Punjab De Sher trounce defending champions Bengal Tigers; set up maiden final appearance

After 4 years of never making it past the group match stage, in their 5th ever appearance, Punjab De Sher has changed that narrative and has set up its first ever final appearance. The Harrdy Sandhu led team bulldozed the defending champions - Bengal Tigers - in the first semi-final of CCL 2025 in Mysuru. 

After winning the toss, Punjab De Sher had a brilliant start on the field, getting rid of the Bengal Tigers’ top order in quick succession. Aditya was gone for 5, Jammy for a duck, as also captain Jisshu, which had the Tigers teetering at 7 for the loss of 3, within power play. Harrdy was the trouble-maker for the Tigers, getting the wickets of both Jammy and Jisshu. Rahul then tried to steady the innings, but he knew that to get his team to a respectable score, he’d have to hit big every now and then. It worked for a while, but a lofted shot that could have gotten him to a half century landed in the safe hands of Suyyash. Eventually, in their first innings, 88 for 7 is all that the defending champions could muster.

In response, the Tigers struck first blood in the first over, sending Babbal back to the pavilion with the Shers’ chase score at 6 runs only. By the end of power play, they were down by 2 wickets, and at the midway-mark, it was 52 for 3. Although the Shers kept losing wickets, they also kept their eye on the score and ensured that they wouldn’t be left stranded with the Tigers in control again. Karan, Rahul, Anuj and Harrdy saw the team get to the target and a little more, but a bigger lead was prevented by the Tigers’ Rahul, who sent Ninja and Dakssh back and was then instrumental in the run-out of Mayur. The final score, 95-7; only a 7 run lead.

The second innings did not begin any better for the Bengal Tigers. Rahul, who was the saviour in the first innings, failed to fire in the second, as also Jammy. That Yusuf (24), Jisshu (13) and Aditya (10) were the only ones with double figure scores in the innings, explains why the Bengal Tigers were bundled out for a paltry 71 runs, which meant that Punjab De Sher needed only 64 for the win. The defending champion's undefeated run in CCL 2025 was coming to an end. 

The opening pair of Harrdy and Anuj almost got the Shers to the finishing line, and although the Tigers managed to get the skipper out and then Jassie too, it was too little too late. The Shers had bundled out the champions and were one step closer to taking it home themselves.

Up next, in the second semi-final, the Karnataka Bulldozers take on the Chennai Rhinos.

The match will be live on JioHotstar.