Vijayawada Sun Shiners started their GMR Andhra Premier League (APL) 2025 campaign with a convincing seven-wicket win over Royals of Rayalaseema in the second match of the tournament played at the ACA VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on August 9. Sunshiners skipper Ashwin Hebbar led his team from the front and played a majestic 98-run knock off just 48 balls. Hebbar’s sensational batting display also made him the recipient of the player of the match (POTM) award winner.
Earlier, Vijayawada captain Ashwin won the toss against Rayalaseema’s captain Shaik Rasheed and elected to field first. Within the first powerplay, Rayalaseema lost their all three top-order batters. Captain Rasheed was the first to depart as Lalith Mohan got rid of him in the fourth over. The skipper could score only 18 off 13. Four deliveries later, Maddila Vardhan got cleaned up by the left-arm pacer Prithvi Raj Yarra after scoring accumulating only one run from three balls.
In the last over of the opening powerplay, Mohan hunted the scalp of wicketkeeper batter Dhruva Kumar Reddy, who concluded his innings on 10 off 12. In the crunch situation, Pyla Avinash stepped up and built a 104-run partnership with M Vasu Deva Raja off just 53 balls. The 25-year-old notched up 96 runs off just 39 deliveries. His innings was studded with 15 boundaries (four fours and 11 sixes). KS Narsimha Raju got rid of Avinash and delivered the much-needed breakthrough to Sunshiners.
M Vasu Deva Raja, who stood with Avinash under pressure, also got run out in the 16th over. The right-handed batter got just 14 runs after consuming 20 balls. Girinath Reddy, who came at number six, held his nerves and collected crucial runs for Rayalaseema. Reddy went back to the dugout unbeaten with his score of 49 which came in only 23 balls. During his knock, he struck eight boundaries (five fours and three sixes). His scintillating batting effort took Rayalaseema to a big total of 196/7 in 20 overs. For Vijayawada, Mohan and Narasimha Raju picked up two wickets apiece in their four-over spells respectively. Prithvi Raj also got one wicket.
Chasing the target of 197, Sunshiners got a phenomenal start as wicketkeeper batter Mamidi Vamsi Krishna and skipper Hebbar built a 43-run stand for the opening wicket off 23 balls.
Jagarlapudi Ram got Krishna caught at the hands of wicket-keeper Dhruva Kumar and delivered the first breakthrough to Rayalaseema. On the next delivery, Ram trapped Munnangi Abhinav, who returned to the pavilion with a one-ball duck.
Despite the loss of wickets on consecutive deliveries, Vijayawada skipper Hebbar looked relentless against bowlers. He brought his fifty in just 24 balls. With Garimella Teja, he built a 123-run stand for the third wicket from just 66 balls. The partnership between the two batters completely snatched the momentum from Rayalaseema.
Hebbar fell against Jagarlapudi and failed to deliver the first century to APL 2025 supporters. He became the fourth batter in the tournament to lose the wicket in the nervous 90s. Hebbar’s knock was studded with 15 boundaries (six fours and nine maximums). Garimella Teja also did a commendable job as he supported his skipper exceptionally in the middle. Teja completed his half-century in 31 balls. He played a potent knock of an unbeaten 77 off 37. Vijayawada pulled off the chase in 16.5 overs and started their campaign in a dominating style.
With the emphatic triumph, Vijayawada Sunshiners are on the top of the GMR APL 2025 standings with two points, while Royals of Rayalaseema are at the bottom of the tally. Vijayawada’s next contest is against Kakinada Kings on Sunday, August 10, while Rayalaseema will square off against Bhimavaram Bulls on the same day.