Skipper Manish Pandey and Sumit star in opening match triumph

Mysuru, Aug. 12- Manish Pandey and Sumit Kumar’s unbeaten 86 runs partnership and L.R Kumar’s three-wicket haul helped defending champions Mysuru Warriors register a 39-run win over Bengaluru Blasters in their opening match of the KSCA Maharaja Trophy T20 Tournament at the SDNR Wadiyar Stadium in Manasagangothri here yesterday. 

Blasters were bowled out for 141 runs in 19.1 overs with their skipper Mayank Agarwal’s 66 off 49 balls going in vain. Chasing a formidable total of 180, Bengaluru Blasters’ batting order was put to test by Mysuru Warriors’ pacers L.R. Kumar and C.A. Karthik who demolished the opening line-up with their lethal spells. Kumar bagged the first wicket when Chethan (8) was caught by Manish Pandey and Rohan Patil (10) was bowled by Karthik. No.4 batter Bhuvan Raju was packed off for a golden duck leaving the Bengaluru Blasters at precarious 22 for 3 in 3.4 overs.

Bengaluru Blasters’ captain Mayank Agarwal and Shubhang attempted to stabilise the innings with 32 runs partnership but K. Gowtham halted their partnership, getting Hegde caught by Bhuvan Shetty. Gowtham remained the cynosure of Mysuru Warriors’ bowling attack as he picked up Suraj Ahuja’s wicket while Shikar Shetty dismissed Rohan Naveen and M. Venkatesh bowled out M.G. Naveen. However, there was still some hope in the Blasters’ dugout as their captain Agarwal was still at the crease. The tail-enders went in quick succession and Mayank perished as well in the 19th over.

Opting to bat first, skipper Manish Pandey lived up to the billing with a swashbuckling unbeaten 58 off 29 balls which helped the hosts set up a strong total of 180 for five wickets. Pandey’s entertaining knock that exemplified aggression with a subtle touch of calmness, was studded with four boundaries and four sixes. His innings was ably supported by wicket-keeper-batsman Sumit Kumar, who remained unbeaten at 44 runs. He was gifted two lives when he was dropped at 28 runs by Rohan Naveen off M.G. Naveen and again in the death overs by Kruthik Krishna.

The duo stitched together a valuable sixth wicket unbroken partnership of 86 runs in 48 balls and weathered the pace of Shubhang Hegde who had scalped three Mysuru Warriors wickets. 

Earlier, in the opening match of the tournament, Mangaluru Dragons began their campaign with a 33-run victory over the Gulbarga Mystics. Batting first, Dragons scored 180/8 in 20 overs. Macneil Noronha top scored for Dragons with 53 runs, studded with three fours and four sixes, before skipper Shreyas Gopal and Kranthi Kumar’s three-wicket hauls to bundle out Gulbarga Mystics for 147 runs in 19.5 overs.

Brief Scores

Mysore Warriors 180/5 in 20 overs (Manish Pandey 58 not out, Harshil Dharmani 38, Sumit Kumar 44 not out, Shubhang Hegde 3/23, M.G. Naveen 1/27, Vidyadhar Patil 1/36) beat Bengaluru Blasters 141 all out in 19.2 overs (Mayank Agarawal 66, Vidyadhar Patil 16, L.R.Kumar 3/27, C.A. Karthik 3/21, K. Gowtham 2/28).

Mangaluru Dragons 180/8 in 20 overs (Macneil Noronha 53, Lochan Gowda 27, Shreyas Gopal 20, Prithviraj 3/21, Vyshak Vijaykumar 2/28, Monish Reddy 2/39) beat Gulbarga Mystics 147 all out in 19.5 overs (Luvnith Sisodia 26 runs, Prajwal Pavan 25, Shreyas Gopal 3/30, Kranthi Kumar 3/36).

Today’s Matches (Aug. 12)

Hubli Tigers Vs Shivamogga Lions               Time : 3.15 pm

Mysore Warriors Vs Gulbarga Mystics        Time : 7.15 pm

Venue: SDNR Wadiyar Stadium, Manasagangothri

Catch the live action on: Star Sports 1 (English)

and Star Sports 1 Kannada and FanCode