MPL T20 2026: Madhav's all-round brilliance, Pandey's composed fifty help Ujjain Falcons return to winning ways
Indore, June 19
In a low-scoring contest that went right down to the wire, Ujjain Falcons held their nerves to chase down a target of 138 and register a hard-fought five-wicket victory in the Aditya Birla Group Madhya Pradesh League T20 Scindia Cup 2026 at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Batting first, Indore Pink Panthers were restricted to 137/8 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a disciplined bowling performance from Ujjain Falcons. Madhav Tiwari ripped through the top order, while Rishi Miglani struck at crucial moments, leaving the Panthers reeling at 18/5 early in the innings, according to a press release from MPCA.
Captain Venkatesh Iyer and Saransh Surana attempted to rebuild the innings with a 23-run partnership. However, just as the duo looked to steady the ship, Naveen Nagle struck to dismiss Surana for 15 off 19 deliveries.
Iyer then found support from Shubham Rathore, and the pair added a valuable 50 runs for the seventh wicket to revive the innings. But when it seemed the Panthers were regaining momentum, Aryan Pandey broke the stand by removing Rathore for 21 off 20 balls. Iyer, who top-scored with 47 off 39 deliveries, was dismissed off the very first ball of the final over.
Lucky Mishra provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 26 off just 15 balls.
For Ujjain Falcons, Madhav Tiwari starred with the ball, returning impressive figures of 3/22 from his four overs, while Rishi Miglani delivered a highly economical spell of 2/14 in his full quota.
The Falcons, however, faced a challenging start to their chase and found themselves in trouble at 51/4 after eight overs, with Rishi Miglani also departing for 28 off 23 deliveries. At a crucial stage, Madhav Tiwari and Aryan Pandey came together and steadied the innings with a vital 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Just when the Falcons appeared to be cruising towards the win, they suffered another setback as Tiwari was dismissed for a valuable 31 off 34 balls. However, Aryan Pandey anchored the chase brilliantly, remaining unbeaten on 56 off 35 deliveries to guide his side home.
Ujjain Falcons eventually chased down the target with one over to spare.
Reflecting on the win, Madhav Tiwari said, "It feels great to get back to winning ways. Our bowling unit gave us the perfect start, and we managed to carry that momentum throughout the innings. There was a slightly challenging phase during the chase, but we stayed calm and Aryan finished the game brilliantly for us. Personally, I always try to assess the conditions and react according to the situation. The wicket was offering assistance, so my focus was on hitting the right areas consistently and building pressure."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Nail-biter till the end! 😬 But honestly, the Panthers should have posted a better total after Venkatesh Iyer's good start. Madhav's 3/22 was the game-changer. Good to see domestic cricket getting this much coverage in Indore. MPCA is doing great work!
Respect to Aryan Pandey for staying calm when the chase looked tricky at 51/4. That unbeaten 56 off 35 balls showed real character, especially for a young player. The future of MP cricket looks bright with talents like these coming through. 👏
Great match to watch on the stream! The Holkar Stadium always produces competitive games. One thing I noticed: the Panthers need to work on their batting depth. After 18/5, expecting Venky Iyer to rescue every time isn't sustainable. Solid win for the Falcons though!
Madhav Tiwari with bat and ball - what a gem! But can we also appreciate Rishi Miglani's 2/14? That's proper T20 bowling, not giving anything away. The way our domestic talent is shaping up is amazing. Scindia Cup is becoming a proper platform. 🏆
Close game! The Falcons' bowling really set it up - restricting Panthers to 137 after they were 18/5 was a mini-comeback. But credit where due: Aryan Pandey's fifty was pure class. Just one suggestion for the Panthers: need better middle-order planning. Great entertainment though
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