Maharaja Trophy 2025, Match 6 Review: Kranthi Kumar's fifer steers Dragons' 29-run win against Shivamogga Lions

Player of the Match Kranthi Kumar of Mangalore Dragons bagged the first fifer of the  Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 Season 4 to register a strong 29-run win over Shivamogga Lions. 

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sharath BR too starred in Mangalore Dragons' win with a stunning 70 runs off 31 balls laced by seven fours and five sixes but it was Kranthi who did maximum damage to ​restrict Shivamogga Lions to 150 for 8 in 20 overs. 

His first victim was Aneeshwar Gautam who was caught at deep square leg by Shreevathsa Acharya for a meager seven runs. In a caught behind effort, he dismissed Aniruddha Joshi for a duck followed by highest scorer for the Lions Rohit Kumar K who had scored 62 runs off 51 balls. His spell was crucial in slowing down Lions' innings who up until the tenth over looked like they had things under control with Aneeshwar and Rohit setting up a 40-run partnership for the third wicket off 25 balls. Though Rohit and No.6 batsman Avinash D managed 37 runs off 37 balls, Kranthi packed off Rohit, Hardik and Avinash in quick succession changing the course of the chase. 

Earlier in the second innings, Dragons' Santokh Singh had a dream opening spell when he bowled out Dhruv Prabhakar for only a run in the opening over. Nihal Ullal was next to follow when Abhilash Shetty was caught by Captain Shreyas Gopal with the score reading 31 for 2 in 5.6 overs. 

Put in to bat first, Mangalore Dragons set up a total of 179 for eight in 20 overs with Sharath BR striking it rich with a fierce 70 off 31 balls. After his opening compatriot Lochan Gowda was caught behind at a paltry 14 runs and only in the third over - thanks to V Koushik's quick one, Sharath had to steer the innings along with Aneesh KV. The pair added 82 runs off 45 balls for the third wicket before Sharath was packed off by Hardik Raj. He was caught at deep cover by Rohit Kumar with the score on board reading 105 for 2 in 10.4 overs. 

Dragons lost wickets in quick succession henceforth, when Hardik Raj scalped Macneil Noronha (3) and Aneesh KV (32) lost his wicket to V Koushik. Captain Shreyas Gopal went cheaply too with Anand Doddamani's stunning effort to bowl him out. 

With 129 for 5, the pressure was on Aadarsh Prajwal and S Shivaraj to keep the runs coming for a respectable total to defend. They added 30 runs before Prajwal fell to Avinash D, caught by Aneeshwar Gautam at mid-off while Shivaraj was caught behind off Vidhwath Kaverappa.    

Koushik proved to be most efficient and economical bowler for Shivamogga Lions, with three crucial wickets giving away just 23 runs. Apart form getting danger man Aneesh KV, he dismissed Kranthi Kumar who had scored eight runs. Tail enders Abhilash Shetty and Shreevathsa Acharya weathered the final spell to close the innings at 179 for 8 in 20 overs which proved just about enough to seal the game.     

Brief Scores 

Mangalore Dragons won by 29 runs 

Mangaluru Dragons: 179/8 in 20 overs (Sharath BR 70 runs off 31 balls, Aneesk KV 32 runs off 29 balls, Aadarsh Prajwal 20 runs off 21 balls, V Koushik 3/23, Vidhwath Kaverappa 1/43) 

Shivamogga Lions: 150/8 in 20 overs (Rohit K 62 runs off 51 balls, Avinash D 25 runs off 24 balls, Tushar Singh 23 runs off 9 balls, Kranthi Kumar 5/37, Santokh Singh 2/35)