Warriors Skipper Karun Nair scores unbeaten 124 runs in 48 balls

Bengaluru: Karun Nair’s electrifying century fuelled Mysore Warriors to a commanding 27-run victory (VJD method) over the Mangaluru Dragons in the KSCA Maharaja Trophy T20 cricket match held at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium yesterday.

Batting first, Karun Nair’s explosive 40-ball century guided Mysore to a formidable total of 226/4 in 20 overs. The Mangaluru Dragons, interrupted by rain mid-innings, were set a revised target of 166 runs in 14 overs but fell short, suffering their second loss of the campaign.

In the first innings, the Mysore Warriors faced an early setback as C.A. Karthik (11) fell to Abhilash Shetty in the third over. Despite this, opener S.U. Karthik (23) and captain Karun Nair (124 not out) accumulated 46 runs during the powerplay.

Karun Nair showcased blistering form, as the duo forged a 47-run partnership, the second-largest stand of the innings. S.U. Karthik, who was dropped twice earlier, finally ran out of luck when M.B. Darshan dismissed him in the eighth over, leaving Mysore at 61/2.

Nair continued his crafty knock unfazed, sweeping and scooping his way to a rapid 27-ball half-century. At the other end, Samit Dravid (16) was scalped by Nischit Rao, just one ball after dispatching him for a maximum. Abhilash Shetty’s return to the attack saw Sumit Kumar (15) dismissed, bringing Manoj Bhandage (31 not out) to the crease. Bhandage remained unbeaten and played a brisk 14-ball cameo, complementing Nair’s relentless assault and constructing an 85-run partnership in 29 balls.

Nair launched two sixes and a four against Paras Gurbax Arya in the 15th over before taking down Nischith Rao with three massive sixes to reach a blistering century off just 40 balls in the penultimate over. His century saw 13 fours and nine sixes. Nair then finished the innings with authority hammering five consecutive boundaries to power Mysore to an imposing 226/4 in their 20 overs.

The Mangaluru Dragons’ run chase faced early setbacks. C. A. Karthik struck first, removing Macneil Noronha and J. Suchith outfoxed K. Rohit before the fifth over. However, Nikin Jose (32) and K.V. Siddharth (50) combined effectively, ensuring the chase remained within reach.

After a brief rain-induced stop in the ninth over, the match resumed with Mangaluru Dragons needing 87 runs in 33 balls to reach their revised target of 166 (VJD method). Nikin Jose departed when he was pinged on the pads by J. Suchith soon after resumption derailing the 50-run partnership.

Sagar Solanki (0) went next, followed by K.V. Siddharth, but only after he brought up his half-century in 25 balls, leaving Mangaluru Dragons at 114/5 in 11 overs. M.B. Darshan put on 12 runs in six balls, to give the Dragons a flicker of hope but he was soon run out and Mangaluru Dragons finished at 138/7.