KPL 2015 Match 20: Namma Shivamogga v Hubli Tigers, Review

KPL 2015 Match 20: Namma Shivamogga v Hubli Tigers, Review: Mysuru, Sept 13: A blazing 51-ball 89 by opening batsman Sadiq Kirmani went in vain for Namma Shivamogga as Hubli Tigers clinched a humdinger, winning by 15 runs in the Karbonn Smart KPL 2015 here on Sunday night.

Chasing Hubli’s stiff 177, Namma Shivamogga was kept in the hunt by Sadiq who played a lone hand holding one end up as wickets fell around him. The right-hander who has had a brilliant run in the tournament so far, has amassed 332 runs from six innings.

He kept the scoreboard ticking with some splendid running in between wickets and his five sixes and five fours took his team to within victory’s sight when he departed in the penultimate over with his team needing 20 runs from nine balls.

Bowler Bhavesh Gulecha gave Sadiq able support collecting 19 runs from just eight balls and being associated in a40-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

The rest of the batsmen failed to come to terms with the Tigers bowling and succumbed cheaply.

Opting to bat, Hubli rode on man of the match, Mohammad Taha’s 39-ball 64 and his splendid 108 runs opening wicket partnership with KB Pawan (47) to post their highest total of 177 this season.

The pair made merry milking the Shivamogga bowlers, who struggled to bowl with discipline. The pair took 12.5 overs to hammer the 108 and towards the end Chetan John Williams slammed 28 off just 11balls to prop up his team.

“It is a good feeling to be the man of the match. I thank the team for believing in me,” said Taha after receiving the award.

This win took Hubli to fourth place with five points while for the vanquished, it was their third successive defeat making it difficult for them to advance in the tournament.