Srinagar, July 4: NIT Hamirpur began its campaign in the All India Inter Staff & Faculty Cricket Tournament 2026–27 with a dominant nine-wicket victory over NIT Sikkim in a Pool A league encounter played at Green Valley Educational Institute, Srinagar. The tournament is being hosted by National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar.
Winning the toss, NIT Sikkim opted to bat first but found it difficult to build momentum against a disciplined bowling attack from NIT Hamirpur. Their innings concluded at 64/8 in the allotted 20 overs.
Tshering Bhutia was the highest scorer for NIT Sikkim with 14 runs, while captain Rahul contributed 13 runs. Amit Daju and Pawan Kathaniya chipped in with 6 runs each, but regular wickets prevented the batting side from posting a competitive total.
In reply, NIT Hamirpur made light work of the target, racing to 66/1 in just 6 overs to seal an emphatic victory with 14 overs to spare.
The chase was spearheaded by Vivek Tiwari, who played an explosive knock of 27 off 16 balls, including five boundaries and a six, before being dismissed. Captain Surender Soni remained unbeaten on 25 off 14 balls, striking six fours, while Manish stayed unbeaten on 6, ensuring there were no further setbacks.
For NIT Sikkim, captain Rahul claimed the lone wicket of the innings, while the remaining bowlers struggled to contain the aggressive batting display.
The comprehensive victory gives NIT Hamirpur an early advantage in Pool A, boosting their net run rate and confidence as the tournament progresses. The match formed part of the opening day’s league fixtures at Green Valley Educational Institute, one of the designated venues for the championship.
