Leh, Apr 14: The quarter-final stage of the HE Chosje Togdan Rinpoche Memorial T20 Tournament 2026 unfolded in emphatic fashion at the NDS Ground on Monday, as The Predators and Gladiators secured commanding victories to book their places in the semi-finals.
In what turned out to be a day of one-sided contests, both fixtures were effectively decided well before the closing stages, underlining the gulf in execution between the competing sides.
The Predators produced a clinical all-round display to outplay United Gunners by 53 runs in the first match. After opting to bat, they overcame an early wobble through a composed and assertive innings from Fida Borgo, whose 70 off 44 deliveries laid the foundation. His knock, punctuated with eleven boundaries, ensured that the innings regained direction after early setbacks.
Suhail’s late flourish, a brisk 32 from just 17 balls, provided the acceleration needed in the closing overs, pushing the total to a competitive 167 despite intermittent breakthroughs by the opposition. S D 14 and Junaid Bashir were the standout performers with the ball for United Gunners, claiming three wickets each, though their efforts were undermined by a lack of control during the middle overs.
The chase, however, never gathered momentum. United Gunners were reduced to 34 for five within the powerplay, a collapse that effectively sealed their fate. Manzoor Mana’s unbeaten 38 offered resistance, while Stanzin Chotak’s quick 32 injected brief urgency into the innings. Yet, the required rate continued to climb beyond reach.
Salim Sapcha led the Predators’ bowling attack with authority, returning figures of four for 19, while Tariq’s three-wicket spell ensured there was no late twist as the lower order folded without much resistance.
Earlier in the day, Gladiators delivered an equally assured performance to defeat Sham Brothers by seven wickets. Asked to bat first, Sham Brothers posted 143 in 17.4 overs, with Asim Bashir contributing 45 and Nasir Ganie adding a quick 35. However, the innings lacked cohesion, as wickets fell at regular intervals, preventing any substantial partnerships from taking shape.
Raja Saleem spearheaded the Gladiators’ bowling effort with an incisive spell of three for 14, while Sonam Enzi maintained tight lines to restrict scoring opportunities.
In response, Gladiators approached the chase with clarity and control. Athar Ali set the early tempo with a fluent 43, before Raja Saleem completed a fine all-round performance with an unbeaten 58 off 27 balls. The target was achieved in 16 overs with minimal fuss, highlighting the side’s batting depth and composure under pressure.
The results see both The Predators and Gladiators advance to the semi-finals, each carrying forward strong momentum built on disciplined execution and decisive performances in the knockout stage.
