Gulbarga Mystics and Mangaluru Dragons. (Source – Maharaja Trophy)
Bengaluru, August 23, 2024: The Gulbarga Mystics clinched a 5-wicket victory over the Mangaluru Dragons in Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. Chasing a target of 151, the Gulbarga Mystics were guided to victory by Praveen Dubey’s (47*) heroics and a steady knock from Smaran R (40*), rendering Shreyas Gopal (25, 1/13) and Macneil Nornoha’s (32, 2/21) all-round performances for Mangaluru Dragons, futile.
Batting second, the Gulbarga Mystics lost skipper Devdutt Padikkal (2) to Abhilash Shetty as early as the first over. Luvnith Sisodia (26) moved with urgency hitting two sixes and two fours while Impact Player Aneesh KV (16) found three boundaries before he was taken out of the equation by Shreyas Gopal. At the end of the powerplay, Gulbarga Mystics were 49/2.
In the very next over, Noronha accounted for Luvnith Sisodia, LBW, followed by Wahid Faizan Khan (6), who skied it to Nikin Jose. Smaran R and Praveen Dubey rolled up their sleeves as Darshan MB was taken down for 15 runs in the 15th over.
Gulbarga Mystics needed 52 runs in the final five overs and Praveen Dubey did the heavy lifting. Dubey clobbered Abhilash Shetty for a six and a four in an 18-run 17th over and followed it up with a six off Paras Gurbax in the 18th over to ease the pressure on Gulbarga. With 10 runs needed off the last over, Smaran R and Praveen Dubey ensured the victory for Gulbarga with three balls to spare.
Earlier in the day, Macneil Noronha (32) and Rohan Patil (12) gave the Mangaluru Dragons a fiery start, however, Rohan Patil was thwarted by Ritesh Bhatkal and Noronha was castled by Prithviraj Shekhawat, leaving the Mangaluru Dragons at 49/2 by the end of the powerplay.
Nikin Jose (9), unable to replicate his exploits from his previous outing was run out in the eighth over. The seasoned pair of KV Siddharth (29) and Shreyas Gopal (25) put on 35 runs in a cautious partnership before Abhishek Prabhakar dismissed Siddharth in the 13th over bringing Mangaluru Dragons to 98/4 in 20 overs.
Lochan Gowda was the next wicket to fall, caught and bowled by Praveen Dubey. Monish Reddy came back into the attack and paid rich dividends, scalping the important wicket of Shreyas Gopal. Shreyas Gopal’s 25-ball knock saw only one boundary.
Pranav Bhatia (13*) remained unbeaten with a handy contribution and Tushar Singh (9) retired himself, allowing MB Darshan (7*) to hammer a six in the penultimate ball of the innings. The Mangaluru Dragons finished at 150/7.
Brief Scores
Gulbarga Mystics won by 5 wkts
Mangaluru Dragons 150/7 in 20 overs (Macneil Noronha 32 runs off 22 balls, KV Siddharth 29 runs off 24 balls, Shreyas Gopal 25 runs off 25 balls, Prithivraj Shekhawat 1/20, Ritesh Bhatkal 1/29)
Gulbarga Mystics 152/5 in 19.3 overs (Luvnith Sisodia 26 runs off 20 balls, Smaran R 40* off 30 balls, Praveen Dubey 47* runs off 24 balls, Macneil Noronha 2/21, Shreyas Gopal 1/13)