KPL 2016, Match 5 Review: Namma Shivamogga pull off last gasp win

In a match of fluctuating fortunes, constantly interrupted by rain, Namma Shivamogga registered their first win in the fifth edition of the KPL at the KSCA Stadium in Rajnagar on Sunday night. They beat a combative Bellary Tuskers by four wickets in a thrilling match settled by the VJD rain-rule method.

Set to make 170 for a win in 20 overs the rain interruptions kept altering the target until the final target was set at 159 in 16 overs. Namma Shivamogga were not too well placed at 61 for four but an excellent  60 runs in 5.2 overs between Shreyas Gopal (42 in 20b,2×6, 3×4) and Abrar Kazi (37 in 23b, 1×6, 4×4) put the team in the driving seat. Siddharth (22 n.o. off 9 balls) and Syed Zeeshan (12 n.o. off 7 balls) polished off the rest of the runs to help the team win.

Earlier, opting to bat first, Bellary Tuskers suffered an early set-back, when opener Rohan Kadam fell to Stuart Binny, but Amit Verma (27) and Devraj went about making amends by batting watchfully.

Later, KB Pawan (42, 1×6, 4×4) along-with Suneel Raju steadied the ship for a while, adding 47 crucial runs. Undeterred by the frequent rain halts, the Tuskers middle-order, inspired by some power-hitting from Suneel (28) and Akhil (20), kept the Tuskers en route to a competitive total.

SP Manjunath (28, 4×1, 6×2) gave the much-required thrust at the end of the innings, powering the team to 169/6.

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The rains continued to create interruptions, as the target had to be revised twice.  The Tuskers got early breakthroughs sending back  Sadiq Kirmani, Pawan Deshpande (8) and Stuart Binny (1), in quick succession.

But S Gopal came good in time and was adjudged the man of the match. IG Anil of Bellary Tuskers returned figures of 3 for 37.

Brief scores:

Bellary Tuskers: 169/6 in 20 overs (KB Pawan 42, Amit Verma 27, Suneel Raju 28, SB Manjunath 28, KP Appanna 2/35) lost to Namma Shivamogga: 161/6 in 16 overs (Shreyas Gopal 42, Abrar Kazi 37, KV Siddharth 22, IG Anil 3/37) by 4 wickets on VJD method