Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Mysuru Warriors break Shivamogga Lions’ unbeaten streak, Bengaluru Blasters’ dismal show continues

Bengaluru, 18th August 2023: The Mysuru Warriors won their second game of the tournament and in the process ended the Shivamogga Lions’ unbeaten streak in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20. An all-round effort from the Mysuru led by CA Karthik (46 and 2/28), M Venkatesh (3 for 18) and Karun Nair (60 runs off 33 balls) helped them beat Shivamogga by 12 runs. 

The early loss of Ravikumar Samarth after being put into bat didn’t hurt the Mysore Warriors as opener CA Karthik (46) and skipper Karun Nair (60) struck nine fours and two sixes to get them off to a blazing start, ending the powerplay at an impressive score of 60-1. 

The duo stitched together a partnership of 90 runs from just 48 deliveries before CA Karthik (46 runs from 29 balls) was caught at long off while attempting to loft Shivamogga Lions left-arm spinner Pranav Bhatia into the stands leaving the scoreboard reading 94-2 after 10 overs. Karun Nair continued his sublime form bringing up his half-century in 27 balls in the following over with a gorgeous cover drive. 

The Shivamogga bowlers pulled it back with the wickets of Rahul Rawat (10), Nair (60 runs off 33 balls) and Shivkumar Rakshith (6) in successive overs. Tushar Singh (12) and Jagadeesha Suchith (6) fell in the 16th and 17th over respectively. The onus was on Manoj Bhandage to finish well, and he didn’t disappoint as he scored 29 runs off just 11 balls before he was dismissed in the final over as the Mysuru Warriors end their innings with a score of 190-9. V Koushik (2/34) and Kranthi Kumar (2/35) were the pick of the Shivamogga bowlers with two wickets apiece. 

In pursuit of a good start, Shivamogga batter, Nihal Ullal (11) was out in the first over after hitting a couple of boundaries. Rohit Kumar (3) fell to M without making an impact, but opener Rohan Kadam (31) and Rohan Naveen (28) ensured that they reached a total of 50-2 at the end of six overs. 

Shivamogga batter Rohan Naveen was looking good (28 runs off 16 balls), having added 59 runs off 35 balls for the third wicket with Rohan Kadam (31), until he was dismissed by Mysore Warriors’ Impact Player Shreesha Achar in the 9th over. Pacer M Venkatesh returned in the eleventh over to pick the wicket of Rohan Kadam.

Skipper Shreyas Gopal (25) and Abhinav Manohar (26) looked good as they nudged the ball around for singles while occasionally find the boundary before the former was bowled by Monish Reddy in the 16th over. With the team needing 53 runs in 26 balls and half the side back in the dug-out. Abhinav Manohar, Kranthi Kumar (8), and HS Sharath (0) were removed in the following two overs. 

A menacing cameo from S Shivraj (29* runs off 13 balls) came a little too late as the Mysuru Warriors won their second consecutive game defeating the Shivamogga Lions by 12 runs in yet another encounter that went down to the last over.

Brief Score 

Mysuru Warriors won by 12 runs 

Mysuru Warriors 190/9 in 20 overs (Karun Nair 60 off 33 balls, CA Karthik 46 off 29 balls, Manoj Bhandage 29 off 12 balls, V Koushik 2/34, Kranthi Kumar 2/35) 

Shivamogga Lions 178/9 in 20 overs (Rohan Kadam 31 off 27 balls, S Shivraj 29* off 13 balls, Rohan Naveen 28 off 16 balls, M Venkatesh 3-18, CA Karthik 2-28, Monish Reddy 2-33) 

Day- 6, Match 2

Bengaluru, August 18^th, 2023: Bengaluru Blasters’ woes continue in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, as they were defeated by 23 runs at the hands of the Mangaluru Dragons. After winning the toss the Mangaluru Dragons became the first team to opt to bat first in the tournament so far. 

Powered by a scintillating century from KV Siddharth (100) and high-octane knocks from BU Shivkumar (40) and Aniruddha Joshi (31*), Mangaluru posted a challenging total of 194/3. Their bowlers kept the pressure on the Bengaluru Blasters with Aditya Goyal picking up three wickets, while debutant Sankalp Shettennavar impressed with two wickets. 

Electing to bat first, the Mangaluru Dragons got off to yet another explosive start. While Mangaluru lost opener Rohan Patil (8) to an avoidable run-out, followed by Sharath BR (1), KV Siddharth (100) was joined by BU Shivakumar (40) to put on an exhibition of top-quality batting. At the end of the powerplay, Mangaluru was poised at 54/2. Both batters were in top form, as they put together a mammoth 90-run partnership in 59 deliveries. Shivakumar departed in the 14th over, scalped by spinner Rishi Bopanna.  

However, KV Siddharth continued unimpeded as he made his way to a century in just 64 balls with 15 boundaries. Aniruddha Joshi also joined the party as he hammered a quickfire knock of 31* runs in just 18 balls, striking two maximums of Rishi Bopanna’s eighteenth over that went for 20 runs.  The pair put on 73 runs for the 4th wicket to help Mangaluru finish at 194/3. While Kumar LR and Rishi Bopanna picked up a wicket each, Sarfaraz Ashraf stood out as the most economical bowler for the Bengaluru Blasters, conceding just 27 runs in his four overs. 

In response, the Bengaluru Blasters run chase unraveled early on as the debutant pacer, Sankalp Shettennavar dismissed Jeswanth Acharya (5) and Mayank Agarwal (0) in quick succession. Soon after, lightning-quick glove work by Sharath BR saw Pavan Deshpande (3) dismissed by K Gowtham. While Dega Nischal (61) looked good, Bengaluru Blasters were wobbling by the end of the powerplay at 34/3. Shubhang Hegde(45) joined Nischal to put on a massive recovery as Nischal reached his half-century in 33 balls. Following the pair’s 74-run partnership, Bengaluru was poised at 106/3 at the end of 14 overs.  

With an ascending required run rate, Dega Nischal found himself dismissed by Anand Doddamani in an attempt to clear the long-off boundary. Coming in at number six, Suraj Ahuja played a belter of an innings, scoring 32 runs in just 14 balls before he was scalped by MG Naveen. Aditya Goyal went on to take two wickets in two balls through Shubhang Hegde (45) and Rishi Bopanna (0) to ensure that the run chase was unsuccessful. The Bengaluru Blasters finished well short at 171/8 in 20 overs.  

Brief Scores 

Mangaluru Dragons won by 23 runs 

Mangaluru Dragons 194-3 in 20 overs (KV Siddharth 100* off 64 balls, BU Shivakumar 40 off 30 balls, Aniruddha Joshi 31* off 18 balls, Rishi Bopanna 1/40, LR Kumar 1/43) 

Bengaluru Blasters 171-8 in 20 overs 

(D Nischal 61 off 43 balls, Shubhang Hegde 45 off 30 balls, Suraj Ahuja 32 off 14 balls, Aditya Goyal 3/35 Sankalp Shettenavar 2/20, MG Naveen 1/20)