Join Bengaluru Blasters, Hubli Tigers and Gulbarga Mystics in the last four

Bengaluru: Mysore Warriors sealed their semi-final spot following a comprehensive 74-run win against Hubli Tigers at the KSCA Maharaja Trophy T20 cricket match held at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium  here yesterday.

Karun Nair (80 not out) notched up another impressive half-century as he propelled Mysore Warriors to 191/6 in the first innings. In response, the Hubli Tigers’ run chase crumbled under the weight of incisive spells from Manoj Bhandage (2/5), J. Suchith (2/12) and Dhanush Gowda (2/26).

Hubli Tigers stayed on course during the powerplay, despite losing two wickets.

J. Suchith dismissed Karthikeya (7), but Mohd. Taha (33) made a strong start with three sixes early on, until he was sent back by Dhanush Gowda in the sixth over, leaving the Hubli Tigers at 45/2.

Shrijith (13) and Manish Pandey (14) couldn’t take Hubli much further as Suchith returned to oust Shrijith while Manish Pandey pulled Deepak Devadiga straight into the hands of K. Gowtham in the midwicket.

The situation further deteriorated as K. Gowtham bagged the wicket of Aneeshwar Gautam (11) in the 14th over.

Meanwhile, Manoj Bhandage’s frugal spell ensured the dismissal of Thippa Reddy (3) and Manvanth Kumar (3) and effectively ruined Hubli’s prospects, at 87/7. Smayan Srivastava cleaned up the tail with the wickets of Rishi Bopanna (2) and K.C. Cariappa (11) while Dhanush Gowda returned to dismiss Madhav Bajaj (3). The Hubli Tigers bundled up for 117 runs in 18.4 overs.

Invited to bat first, Mysore’s S.U. Karthik (29) opened fire in the first over, striking 16 runs off Manvanth Kumar. He put on 34 runs with C.A. Karthik (30) before he was picked up by L.R. Kumar in the fourth over as Mysore Warriors finished the powerplay at 47/1. Karun Nair (80 not out) and C.A. Karthik had put on 42 runs in 25 balls, but Madhav Bajaj ended Karthik’s handy contribution.

While Karun Nair minimised his risks initially, Sumit Kumar (5) was scalped by Madhav Bajaj while Harshil Dharmani (15) and Manoj Bhandage (0) perished in the span of four balls, dismissed by Rishi Bopanna and K.C. Cariappa respectively. Mysore Warriors were 116/4 in 15 overs.

When J. Suchith (20) joined Karun Nair, he had scored 36 runs in 31 balls including three fours and a six. Nair cut loose in the 17th over, dispatching two consecutive sixes to opposite ends of the park and completing a 34-ball half-century. In the 18th over, Suchith also chipped-in with two successive sixes off L.R. Kumar but perished in the same over.

Karun Nair went on to conquer Nischith Pai in the penultimate over, pummelling two sixes and two fours. Nair remained unbeaten on 80 runs in 48 balls as the Mysore Warriors finished at 191/6 in 20 overs.

Brief Scores: Mysore Warriors: 191/6 in 20 overs (Karun Nair 80 not out, S.U. Karthik 29, C.A. Kartik 30, L.R. Kumar 2/37, Madhav Bajaj 2/34) BEAT Hubli Tigers: 117/10 in 18.4 overs (Mohd. Taha 33, Manish Pandey 14, Manoj Bhandage 2/5, J. Suchith 2/12, Smayan Srivastava 2/21, Dhanush Gowda 2/26).

KSCA Maharaja Trophy T20

Today’s Matches (Aug. 28)

Mysore Warriors Vs Mangaluru Dragons               – 3 pm

Bengaluru Blasters Vs Namma Shivamogga- 7 pm

Catch the live action on Star Sports Kannada, Star Sports 2; Live streaming on Fancode