Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Shivamogga Yodhas edge Gulbarga Mystics by 1 run in thriller
Hubballi, June 30
Shivamogga Yodhas scored a thrilling 1-run victory over Gulbarga Mystics via the VJD Method in a rain-interrupted match of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 in Hubballi on Tuesday.
After the target was revised to 128 in 12 overs from 181, Manish Pandey nearly pulled off a heist, slamming 36 runs in 13 balls (4 sixes, 1 four), including 23 runs in the final over. For the Yodhas, it was sweet revenge after having lost by a huge 95-run margin in the first-round match in Mysore.
With their third victory from seven matches, the Yodhas moved to fourth on six points while the Mystics, with their fourth loss, stayed third on the same number of points.
The Mystics kept losing wickets at regular intervals and eventually found themselves in a difficult situation, needing 39 runs from 12 balls and 26 from six. Besides Pandey, Macneil Noronha was the next highest scorer with 34 runs from 20 balls at the top of the order.
Put into bat first, the Yodhas reached a stiff 180-7 with two key partnerships and vital contributions from the top and lower-middle-order.
Explosive wicketkeeper-batter Luvnith Sisodia once again gave the Yodhas an aggressive start, adding a 29-ball 53 for the second wicket with Tushar Singh (35, 27 balls, 1 four, 3 sixes) after Macneil Noronha had dismissed the other opener, Naveen MG, off the third ball of the innings.
Sisodia continued his consistent run and took his tally to 273 runs with three half-centuries and a strike rate of over 163. Sisodia fell four balls before the end of the powerplay after scoring 31 runs in 18 balls, but by then he had set a good tempo and the Yodhas reached 63-2 at the end of six overs.
But Tushar Singh and captain Smaran Ravichandran (19, 19 balls, 2 fours) fell in quick succession, and the Yodhas were down to 105-5 in 12.1 overs. Sujay Sateri, however, came to the rescue at the right time to salvage the innings in the company of Yashovardhan Parantap (25, 19 balls, 2 fours).
Stroking the ball well and finding the boundaries at regular intervals, Sateri contributed an unbeaten 47 in the crucial 69-run sixth-wicket stand with Parantap that came off 44 balls. Dhruv Prabhakar, with 2-16, was the most successful bowler for the Mystics.
Brief scores:
Shivamogga Yodhas 180/7 in 20 overs (Luvnith Sisodia 31, Tushar Singh 35, Sujay Sateri 47 not out, Yashovardhan Parantap 25; Dhruv Prabhakar 2-16) bt Gulbarga Mystics 126/7 in 12 overs(Macneil Noronha 34, Manish Pandey 36 not out; Yashovardhan Parantap 2-34, Ambareesh K 2-33) by 1 run (VJD).
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm from Bangalore and this is why I love the Maharaja Trophy. Matches like these show the depth of talent in Karnataka cricket. Luvnith Sisodia and Sujay Sateri are names to watch for the future - proper technique and cool heads under pressure. Hope the franchise model continues to grow state-level cricket. 🏏
Yaar, one-run victory is crazy close! Manish Pandey still has that class - 36 off 13 balls is no joke. But I feel for the Mystics, they were in it till the last ball. Also, the VJD method needs more awareness among fans - every time it rains, people start blaming the system instead of understanding it. Good to see the Yodhas climbing the table. 👍
Superb comeback win for Shivamogga after that 95-run thrashing earlier! Sujay Sateri's unbeaten 47 was the real Gamechanger - when they were 105/5, most teams would have collapsed. And Ambareesh and Yashovardhan bowled well at the death. Shows that in T20 cricket, you're never out of the game until the last ball. 💪
Exciting match but honestly, the VJD method needs some transparency. Every time it rains, the target calculations feel like a lottery. But full credit to both teams for the entertainment. Luvnith Sisodia with three half-centuries already - this guy is on fire! Karnataka's domestic circuit is producing such amazing talent. 🔥🔥
Manish Pandey's 23-run
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