KPL 2015 Match 8: Bellary Tuskers v Namma Shivamogga, Review

KPL 2015 Match 8: Bellary Tuskers v Namma Shivamogga, Review:

Hubballi, Sept 6: In a pulsating finish, a sixth wicket partnership worth 57 runs between KV Siddarth and Aditya B Sagar heaved Namma Shivamogga to a close victory in the Karbonn Smart KPL 2015 here on Sunday night.

Chasing 160 and down 103 for five in the 15^th over, Sagar came in as the pinch-hitter and did the job to the delight and joy of team owner Umapathy and teammates as Namma Shivamogga clinched a five wicket victory with three balls to spare.

Shivamogga were cruising along before they suddenly found themselves at the receiving end. At the fall of the fifth wicket, Aditya was sent in and what a way he justified the decision of his coach and skipper.

In 19 balls he not just changed the complexion of the game but did the star turn for his team along with Siddarth, taking 29 balls to slam 57 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket.

“I am happy I got the opportunity and the occasion to do what I did. I took those half chances and it paid off,” said man of the match Aditya after receiving his cheque for rupees ten thousand.

Earlier, invited to bat, Bellary Tuskers found themselves in a piquant situation on two occasions. On each occasion a 50 plus partnership not only shored them up but also enabled the team reach a healthy 159 for six, a total that looked out of reach early in their innings.

After losing their top three for just 27 on the board, the Tuskers innings was revived by identical 34’s from skipper Devraj Patil and Aniruddha Joshi. This fourth wicket pair played with caution and ran their singles hard to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Once they had the feel of the rival attack and the pitch, they went after the bowlers to put on 57 runs together before disaster struck them once again.

From a healthy 84 for three, the Tuskers were reduced to 96 for six in the 16^th over.

However, the seventh wicket pair of SP Manjunath (36 n.o., 16b, 5 x 4, 1 x 6) and CA Karthik (25 n.o., 13b, 4 x 4) used the long handle tellingly to add 63 runs to the team’s total to take it past the 150 mark.