Maharaja Trophy KSCA 2023: Gulbarga Mystics Ride on Smaran-Noronha Partnership to beat Hubli Tigers, Mysuru Warriors outshine Mangaluru Dragons

Day 11, Match 1

Bengaluru, August 23 2023: The Gulbarga Mystics secured their fourth victory of the Shriram Capital Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, powered by FanCode. Gulbarga won by 7 wickets to hand the Hubli Tigers their second loss of Maharaja Triphy KSCA 2023. K Shrijith (65) and Manish Pandey (48*) endeavors with the bat proved fruitless as the Gulbarga bowlers did well to restrict Hubli Tigers to 164/6.

However, the chief architects of their victory were Macneil Noronha and Smaran who put on a marvelous 110-run partnership to complete an untroubled run chase for the Mystics. Noronha had earlier in the match also picked up the crucial wickets of Luvnith Sisodia and Praveen Dubey.

Invited to bat, the explosive opening pair of Luvnith Sisodia (6) and M.Taha (12) were reined in by a series of tight overs from the Gulbarga Mystics. The mounting pressure forced both batters to lose their wickets while trying to accelerate within the powerplay. Macneil Noronha scalped Sisodia while Taha was caught out by the bowling of Sharan Goud. At the end of the powerplay the Hubli Tigers were precariously poised at 37/2. While KL Shrijith (66) looked threatening, Praveen Dubey (8) was Noronha’s second triumph of the day.

Skipper Manish Pandey joined Shrijith as the pair put on a 90-run partnership.  Shrijith went on to get a marauding half century, reaching the milestone in just 32 deliveries.  Manish Pandey remained unbeaten on 48 runs from 32 deliveries as well. Eventually, Shrijith was dismissed by Abhilash Shetty when Smaran completed his third catch of the day, in the 15^th over, leaving the Hubli Tigers at 132/4. 

Manvanth Kumar was dismissed in the very next over while MB Darshan chipped in with important runs. The Hubli Tigers failed to capitalize on the platform built during the middle overs, as they finished on 164/6, securing only 28 runs in the last four overs with Manish Pandey facing only seven of those deliveries. 

In response, the Gulbarga Mystics began with a moderately successful powerplay. While they scored 48 runs on par with the required run rate, they lost both openers, Chethan LR and impact player, Aadarsh Prajwal. Chethan fell to V. Kaverappa as early as the third over and Aadarsh Prajwal was dismissed by KC Cariappa in the sixth over. The innings was reinvigorated as Macneil Noronha and Smaran got together to construct one of the tournament’s finest partnerships.

Their 110-run stand came in a mere 74 balls and saw the Gulbarga Mystics to a comfortable victory. Both batsmen reached their half centuries in 34 balls, rotating the strike exceptionally well while finding boundaries at regular intervals. The game slipped away from the Hubli Tigers, and they only managed a consolatory run out of Smaran in the 19^th over. Macneil Noronha was joined by Amit Verma (1*) as the Gulbarga Mystics went to win by 7 wickets and 8 balls remaining. 

Brief Scores 

Gulbarga Mystics won by 7 wickets 

Hubli Tigers - 164/6 in 20 overs (Krishnan Shrijith - 65 off 38 balls, Manish Pandey - 48* off 32 balls, MB Darshan - 13 off 12 balls, Macneil Noronha - 2/15, Abhilash Shetty - 1/24, Vijaykumar Vyshak - 1/29) 

Gulbarga Mystics - 165/3 in 18.4 overs (Macneil Noronha - 65* off 50 balls, Smaran R - 56 off 38 balls, Aadarsh Prajwal - 14 off 14 balls, KC Cariappa - 1/28, Vidwath Kaverappa - 1/32) 

Day 11, Match 2