Maharaja Trophy KSCA 2023: Bengaluru Blasters' losing streak continue as Hubli Tigers savour sixth win, Shivamogga Lions earn clinical victory against Mysuru Warriors

A fine century stand between Mayank Agarwal (68) and D Nischal (54) for Bengaluru went in vain as the Hubli batters came out all guns blazing.

By Press Release

Updated - 22 Aug 2023, 23:23 IST

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Day 10, Match 1

Bengaluru, August 22nd, 2023: The Hubli Tigers brought up their sixth win of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, beating the Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters by six wickets with nine balls to spare. A fine century stand between Mayank Agarwal (68) and D Nischal (54) for Bengaluru went in vain as the Hubli batters came out all guns blazing, with Md. Taha leading the way scoring a 35-ball 66. 

After winning the toss, the Bengaluru Blasters elected to bat first.  Bhuvan Raju (6) fell in the first over to V. Kaverappa, but Nischal (54) and Mayank Agarwal (68) looked to be in fine form as they powered the Bengaluru Blasters to 52/1 at the end of the powerplay. While Nischal led the onslaught in the first six overs, Mayank Agarwal broke the shackles in the next phase of the game. His inning saw him clear the ropes on six occasions and his rapid-fire half century came as quick as 34 balls while Nischal reached the milestone in 38 deliveries.   

The pair put on a partnership of 122 runs, before they departed in quick succession to the shrewd KC Cariappa in the fourteenth over with the score reading 130/3.  While Shubhang Hedge (28) played yet another handy knock before he was bowled by Kaverappa, Suraj Ahuja (6) was also dismissed by KC Cariappa without making much of an impact. Lochan Appanna (11*) and Aman Khan (4*) manage to string together a 23-run partnership to ensure the Bengaluru Blasters finished at 188/5 in 20 overs.  KC Cariappa was the pick of the Hubli bowling with figures of 3/31 while V.Kaverappa finished with 2/29

In reply, the Hubli Tigers were off to a flier as they scored 67 runs in the powerplay. Luvnith Sisodia was dismissed for a quickfire 20 runs off 9 balls, but Md. Taha (66 off 35 balls) didn’t let up, as he went on to register his half century in 23 balls, making the Bengaluru Blasters pay dearly for dropping his catch in the second over. 

Md. Taha, along with KL Shrijith (45) put together a partnership of 101 runs from just 54 balls before Taha was scalped by Rishi Bopanna. Shrijith also fell soon after a well-made 45 runs from 30 balls that included two fours and three sixes. BA Mohith (10) was Sarfaraz Ashraf’s second wicket in the match, falling in the 15th over at the end of which the score read 154/4. 

With just 35 runs required in the final five overs and six wickets in hand, the Hubli Tigers continued the momentum they had generated, as skipper Manish Pandey (35*) and Praveen Dubey (8*) took them to a comfortable win with 9 wickets and with nine balls to spare. 

Brief Scores

Hubli Tigers won by 6 wickets with 9 balls to spare 

Bengaluru Blasters - 188-5 in 20 overs: (Mayank Agarwal 68 off 38 balls, D Nischal 54 off 42 balls, Shubhang Hegde 29 off 18 balls, KC Cariappa 3-31, Vidwath Kaverappa 2-29) 

Hubli Tigers  -190-4 in 18.3 overs: (Md. Taha 66 off 35 balls, KL Shrijith 45 off 30 balls, Manish Pandey 35* off 22 balls, Sarfaraz Ashraf 2-34, Shubhang Hegde 1-32, Rishi Bopanna 1-33) 

Day 10, Match 2

Bengaluru August 22 2023: Shivamogga Lions emerged victorious against the Mysuru Warriors to secure yet another victory in the Shriram Capital Maharaja Trophy, KSCA T20. Mysuru Warriors’ first innings total of 162/8 powered by Karun Nair (46) was overcome by a composed batting performance from the Shivamogga Lions. Kranthi Kumar registered an impressive all-round performance with an unbeaten knock of 20 runs and two crucial wickets and S Shivaraj struck two crucial sixes in the penultimate over to tip the scales in favour of the Shivamogga Lions to help them win with 5 wickets and two balls remaining.
With runs hard to come by, the Mysuru Warriors had a sluggish powerplay that saw the dismissal of the in-form opener, CA Karthik (14) and Ravikumar Samarth (17) who fell to D. Devadiga and Kranthi Kumar respectively, to leave Mysuru Warriors at 39/2. Captain Karun Nair (46) and Lankesh (25) stabilized the innings with a 40-run partnership before Lankesh was scalped during an economical spell by Pranav Bhatia. While Nair began his innings watchfully, he proceeded to decimate the Shivamogga bowling attack finding the boundary on five occasions including two maximums. 
The seasoned Shoaib Manager chipped in before he was caught and bowled by Shreyas Gopal. Soon after, Karun Nair was run out following a terrible mix up with Manoj Bhandage. A few deliveries later Shivkumar Rakshith (0) was Kranthi Kumar’s second wicket of the night. J Suchith joined Manoj Bhandage as the pair put on 37 runs in the death overs to get the Mysuru Warriors to a respectable total of 162/8.
In reply, the Shivamogga Lions pursued their target with aggression. When Rohan Kadam (15) fell in the fifth over, the Lions had already accumulated 46 runs. Rohan Naveen (10) was the next man to depart leaving the Shivamogga Lions well ahead of the asking rate at 58/2 by the end of the powerplay. Rohit Kumar (12) had yet another promising start but was bowled by Wadhwani.
Opener Nihal Ullal and Abhinav Manohar built a partnership of 38 runs to move in the innings along before Nihal Ullal was cleaned up by Monish Reddy for a well-played 46.  In a much-needed attempt to accelerate, Abhinav Manohar was caught in the deep of the bowling of Monish Reddy. 
Kranthi Kumar (20) played a quick-fire knock in just 13 deliveries. With 12 balls remaining and 24 runs needed, Manoj Bhandage’s penultimate over proved to be decisive as Shivaraj hammered two sixes to secure 19 runs of the 19th over to ensure that the Shivamogga Lions coasted home in the final over with 5 wickets and two balls remaining.
Brief Scores
Shivamogga Lions won by 5 wickets  
Mysore Warriors - 162/8 in 20 overs (Karun Nair - 46 off 33 balls, Lankesh KS - 25 off 19 balls, Manoj Bhandage - 20 off 14 balls, V Koushik - 2/27, Kranthi Kumar - 2/40, Shreyas Gopal - 1/18)

Shivamogga Lions - 163/5 in 19.4 overs - (Nihal Ullal - 45 off 39 balls, Abhinav Manohar - 27 off 27 balls, Kranthi Kumar - 20* off 13 balls, S Shivaraj – 16* off 7 balls, Monish Reddy - 2/28, Kushaal Wadhwani - 1/10, Jagadeesha Suchith - 1/11)

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