The ninth game of GMR Andhra Premier League (APL) 2025 between Vijayawada Sun Shiners and Simhadri Vizag Lions at the ACA VDCA International Cricket Stadium on August 12 saw the one-sided affair. Simhadri Vizag Lions completed the chase of 186 in 17.1 overs and won their first game of the GMR APL season four by eight wickets after two consecutive losses. Kogatam Haneesh Reddy became the player of the match (POTM) for his match-deciding knock of 104* runs off just 60 balls.
Simhadri Vizag Lions captain Ricky Bhui won the toss and elected to field first. On the second delivery of the match, M Vamsi Krishna fell against Kavuri Saiteja and departed without scoring any run. After that, captain Ashwin Hebbar and Munnangi Abhinav stitched a 62-run stand off just 35 balls. Bailapudi Yeswanth picked up the scalps of both batter. Abhinav was first to depart after chipping in with 28 off 18.
In the same over, Hebbar got trapped in front of the wicket and walked back to the pavilion after hitting 30 off just 18. Yeswanth, in his next over, got rid of Y Vasu, who got stumped after scoring three off seven. Garimella Teja and KSN Raju built a 48-run stand off just 34 balls. Teja fell against Tripurana Vijay after contributing 33 off 22 from his bat.
Raju stood in the middle until the last over and went on to rack up his half-century. Riding on his quick 53 off 29, Sun Shiners posted a total of 185/8 in their 20 overs. For Simhadri, Yeswanth was the most successful bowler with 4/15 figures in his four-over spell. Kavuri Saiteja also claimed two wickets after bowling his four overs. Ranjeet Darji and Turipurana also got one wicket each.
In the second innings, KSN Raju dismissed Abhishek M Reddy for his individual score of three off two. However, Kogatam Haneesh Reddy looked relentless with his bat and played some superb shots with his bat in the first powerplay. Marathala Dhanush looked ineffective with his bat and departed in the sixth over of the innings after hoarding only four runs after consuming 12 balls.
Haneesh, who was looking in sensational touch, received support from his captain Ricky Bhui. Reddy brought his 50 in 37 balls while Bhui stayed calm in the crunch situation. Later Bhaui also shifted gears and struck his fifty in just 25 balls. Both batters stitched an unbroken 147-run stand off just 67 balls.
Riding on both innings, Lions pulled off the target in just 17.1 overs. From Vijayawada, Gollapudi Sai Venkata Sumith and KSN Raju got one wicket each. Other bowlers looked miserable and went back to the pavilion wicketless. Haneesh’s innings included eight fours and nine sixes while his captain Bhui contributed an unbeaten 58 off 30 to the team’s convincing success.
Vijayawada Sun Shiners, who have lost their maiden match of the competition, are in the second spot on the points table with two wins and a defeat while Simhadri Vizag Lions are in the sixth position with one win and a couple of losses. Vijayawada will next take on Bhimavaram Bulls on August 13 while Lions’ next contest is against Royals of Rayalaseema on August 15.