In a thrilling match, the Bengaluru Blasters defeated the Gulbarga Mystics by a margin of two runs in the Maharaja Trophy T20 Trophy 2024 on Monday, August 26, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
With economical bowling performances in crucial areas, the Bengaluru Blasters were able to hold onto their total of 153/9, even though the Gulbarga Mystics were comfortably leading midway through the chase. Suraj Ahuja (35), and Naveen MG (29), were instrumental in propelling Bengaluru’s comeback from 51/6 earlier in the day.
In the Gulbarga Mystics run chase, Luvnith Sisodia (age 56) and Devdutt Padikkal (age 40) launched themselves cautiously. The Mystics ended the powerplay behind the needed run rate at 36/0, despite their frequent bombardment of the boundary.
The first two quickly removed the restraints, as Sisodia hit Kranthi Kumar for a four and a six in the ninth over. Padikkal hit two consecutive sixes off Shubhang Hegde in the following over as well, but the 77-run partnership came to an end when he was caught behind the next delivery.
Impact player Lavish Kaushal cleaned up after Smaran (15) left after 14 balls. Shubhang Hegde sent Sisodia out to the pavilion after he managed to clinch a fifty-score off 42 balls, which included six fours and one six, leaving Gulbarga Mystics at 118/3 in 15.5 overs.
In the 17th over, Naveen MG returned to the mix and picked up Praveen Dubey (1). When Prithviraj Shekhawat (12) came to bat, Gulbarga Mystics needed 32 runs from 19 balls. Shekhawat was run out in the penultimate over after smashing a six and four. Despite scoring 20* runs in 13 balls, including a six and a four in the last six deliveries of the innings, Ritesh Bhatkal, who batted at number four, failed to help the Gulbarga Mystics surpass their 17-run goal in the final over.
The Gulbarga Mystics’ choice to bowl first in the first innings proved wise as Vyshak Vijaykumar (3/32) seriously damaged the Bengaluru Blasters’ top order during the powerplay.
Chethan LR (7) was removed by Vyshak Vijaykumar in the second over as he was caught behind off an inside edge. Bhuvan Raju (1) was then removed in the fourth over. After hitting two boundaries and a six as an opener, Mayank Agarawal (20) was run out, putting Bengaluru in danger at 39/3 at the end of the powerplay.
The middle and lower order of Bengaluru was then thoroughly outclassed by Abhishek Prabhakar (3/24), who removed Shubhang Hegde (8) from the equation in the seventh over, Rakshith S (12), and Aniruddha Joshi (0) in the ninth over.
After the Bengaluru Blasters were hammered at 51/6 in 8.3 overs, Suraj Ahuja (35), and Naveen MG (29), managed to fend for themselves. Between them, they scored 49 runs in 32 deliveries, but in the 14th over, Vyshak Vijaykumar removed Naveen MG to make room for Kranthi Kumar.
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Bengaluru Blaster were at 120/8 in 17 overs after Ahuja’s 23-ball knock, which was cut short by Monish Reddy, featured three fours and one over the ropes. With the support of Impact player Niranjan Naik (12) and late-inning stand of 23 runs in 13 balls, Kranthi Kumar (16) helped Bengaluru record a strong total of 153/9 in 20 overs.
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