Kataka: The Keonjhar Miners emerged victorious in the Odisha T20 League – CM Trophy, securing the championship after a convincing nine-wicket win against the Sambalpur Warriors at the renowned Barabati Stadium.
Demonstrating a strong all-around performance with both bat and ball, the Miners capped off a remarkable tournament with a decisive victory in the final match.
The Sambalpur Warriors struggled significantly, being bowled out for a mere 102 runs in just 18.3 overs, thanks to an impressive display by Keonjhar’s bowlers. From the beginning, the Warriors found it difficult to establish momentum and lost wickets regularly, eventually collapsing to 55/8 before being all out.
Jamala Mohapatra shone with the ball for Keonjhar, achieving outstanding bowling figures of 2/13 over four overs, playing a crucial role in limiting the Warriors’ score.
In response, Keonjhar faced an early challenge when Rajesh Dhupar was dismissed for just one run off four balls. Nevertheless, Mayank Pattanayak and captain Subhranshu Senapati steadied the innings, forming an unbroken partnership of 89 runs to lead their team to victory.
Pattanayak was the standout performer with an unbeaten 72 runs off only 34 balls, while Senapati supported him with 32 not out off 26 deliveries. The duo maintained their composure throughout the chase, bringing Keonjhar to a triumphant finish.
Captain Subhranshu Senapati expressed his joy over the victory and acknowledged the contributions of the team owner, support staff, and players throughout the championship run. He stated, “I am extremely happy with this victory. I would especially like to thank our team owner and support staff for the way they stood by us throughout the tournament. We lost our first two matches, and making a comeback from that position was not easy. The support and belief they showed in us played a huge role in our journey. The credit also goes to all the players, who remained committed to the team and played for each other. Their dedication was visible on the field, and I am delighted that we have finished the tournament as champions.”
Keonjhar Miners owner Pratyush Manish Khemka also expressed pride in the team’s success, emphasizing the resilience shown by the players after their initial defeats. “It has been a fantastic game and an incredible journey for us. Although we lost our first two matches in the tournament, the team showed tremendous character to bounce back and win three games in a row. We carried that momentum into the final and delivered a dominant performance. The way the players have come together and performed as a unit has been remarkable. As a team owner, I am extremely proud of what this group has achieved. Watching them play with such commitment and deliver these results truly fills my heart with joy. Words cannot fully describe how happy and proud I feel today,” he commented.
The final match was attended by various dignitaries, including the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, the Hon’ble Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, and Members of Parliament from the region, who were recognized during the ceremony by members of the OCA Apex Council.
Season awards honored the standout performers of the tournament, with the Moment of the Season awarded to Swastik Samal, Player of the Season to Vageesh Sharma from the Keonjhar Miners, and the Purple Cap also going to Sharma. Shantanu Mishra received the Orange Cap. The match officials, including umpires and scorers, were also acknowledged for their contributions.
During the ceremony, OCA President Pankaj Lochan Mohanty presented the winners’ medals to the Keonjhar Miners. The team received their winner’s cheque from Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo alongside Rajya Sabha MP Manmohan Samal, who also presented the championship trophy, officially crowning the Miners as champions of the Bharat Masala Odisha T20 League – CM Trophy. The Miners’ journey, from losing their first two matches to clinching the title, became a remarkable narrative of resilience and excellence in the tournament.
