JOIN USNair slams century as United score second win
Notwithstanding Karun Nair’s unbeaten century, Mangalore United survived some anxious moments before emerging winners by four runs in a high-scoring match against Bijapur Bulls in the Karnataka Premier League here at the Gangotri Glades on Sunday.
The defending champions, despite having stacked up an impressive 175/1, faced spirited fightback from Bulls whose innings eventually came to a halt at 171/7.
Electing to bowl first, Bulls couldn’t make any impact as United openers -- Nair (100 n.o., 62b, 9x4, 4x6) and Rohit Sabharwal (65, 57b, 5x4, 3x6) -- made merry after a somewhat cautious start. The right-handed batsmen took exactly 50 balls to bring the team’s half-century but consumed only 32 more deliveries to race to 100. The third fifty came even faster as the duo needed just 24 balls to help United reach 150 without loss. None of the Bulls’ bowlers was able to break the association which ended when Sabharwal was run out. By the time the skipper was dismissed, United had amassed 162 in 18.5 overs.
Bulls began their chase on a disastrous note, losing their opener R Smarath for a duck. Suraj Sampath (42, 28b, 4x4, 2x6) and Naveen MG (22) then steadied the ship before Kunal Kapur (41, 28b, 4x4, 1x6) and KC Avinash (28, 20b, 2x6) raised hopes with their cameos. A Mithun, who had an off day with the ball, used the long handle to good effect, rattling a 14-ball-22 but these fleeting efforts weren’t going to take the Bulls across the line.
Easy win for Tuskers
In the second match of the day, Bellary Tuskers trounced Rockstars by 73 runs. Electing to bat first, the Tuskers amassed a formidable 189/5 in 20 overs. Vice-captain Devraj Patil and Abrar Kazi top-scored with an identical 48 while Mayank Agarwal (41) and Vishwanathan IM (34) chipped in with valuable knocks.
In reply, Rockstars were all out for a modest 116 in 19.1 overs. Barring Vikranth (32) and Siddhanth (36), no other Rockstars’ batsmen made important contributions to help their side mount a serious challenge.
Purushotham was the wrecker-in chief for the Tuskers, bagging four wickets for 32 runs. Abrar Kazi (2/13) and Ritesh Bhatkal (2/31) were the other bowlers amongst wickets.
Brief scores: Mangalore United: 175/1 in 20 overs (Karun Nair 100 n.o., Rohit Sabharwal 65) bt Bijapur Bulls: 171/7 in 20 overs (Suraj Sampath 42, Kunal Kapoor 41, KC Avinash 28; Udit Patel 2-27)
Bellary Tuskers: 189/5 in 20 overs (Devraj Patil 48, Abrar Kazi 48, Mayank Aggarwal 41, Vishwanathan IM 34; Raghu Teja 2/39) bt Rockstars: 116 all out in 19.1 overs ( Vikrant 32, Siddhanth 36; Purushotham 4-32, Abrar Kazi 2-13, Ritesh Bhatkal 2-31).