KPL 2015 Match 18: Mangalore United v Bellary Tuskers, Review

KPL 2015 Match 18: Mangalore United v Bellary Tuskers, Review: Mysuru, Sept 12: A late blitzkrieg by number seven batsman Bhareth NP who slammed a 23-ball unbeaten 45 was not enough to take Mangalore United past the winning post as Bellary Tuskers carved out a nail biting seven runs victory in the Karbonn Smart KPL 2015 here on Saturday night.

Chasing Tuskers’ 164, Mangalore began well with the opening pair of Rohan Kadam (50) and Karun Nair (19) posting 55 runs for the first wicket.

While Kadam was striking the ball well, Nair was not himself  and with the outfield behaving heavier, the ball was not travelling to the right hander’s satisfaction.

However, the United batsmen have themselves to blame as they went for shots that were not there to be hit and paid the price. The team was reduced to 98 for six in 14 overs and it seemed curtains for the Season II winners.

But Bhareth had other plans as he brought the contest alive slamming four sixes and two fours to take Mangalore close to victory. With Udit Patel (14), he added 56 for the seventh wicket before Udit departed.

Bhareth was stuck at the wrong end in the last over and Bellary breathed easy when the second last ball went for a single with United needing nine of the last ball.

Put into bat, Bellary Tuskers had opening bat Pavan Deshpande (40) leading the top order and Amit Verma (38) leading the middle order with a few chipping in with useful runs to notch their highest total of the tournament so far.

Filled with useful cricketers, the team finally came together. Despite being 104 for five after 12 overs, the Tuskers put up 164 before being bowled out off the last ball of the innings.

Pavan held one end up with some structured batting while Karthik (23) and Devraj Patil (22) chipped in usefully to have those small partnerships that boosted the total. When Pavan departed, Verma took over and kept the scoreboard ticking. Along with Shivam Mishra (22) he ensured that the team bowlers would have enough to defend, adding 52 runs for the sixth wicket.