Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2023 has produced few close encounters so far. On August 17 at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Shivamogga Lions were struggling in the run chase despite skipper Shreyas Gopal's half-century. Then lower-order batters changed the game with quickfire cameos to snatch a win from the grasp of Gulbarga Mystics.
In the run chase of 176, Shivamogga top-order batters surrendered to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak and Abhilash Shetty. From 19/0 in 1.4 overs, they lost five wickets for 39 runs in 4.3 overs. Vyshak and Shetty struck twice whereas Sharan Goud took one wicket as well.
Skipper Gopal got the run chase back on track. He did the heavy lifting whereas Gujarat Titans (GT) batter Abhinav Manohar played too many dot balls. He scored 52 runs from 37 balls including four fours and two sixes. The partnership was broken in the 14th over. Hardik Raj broke the partnership. When Gopal got out, Shivamogga still needed 66 runs from six overs.
S Shivaraj did not take much time to attack and dealt in boundaries. Meanwhile, Maohar struggled to hit the ball out of the park. In the 18th over, Avinash D got the wicket of Manohar. He scored 28 runs from 32 balls including one six. HS Sharath walked out to bat and infused life into the run chase with a six and a four. He attacked in the penultimate over as well as Shetty conceded 17 runs in the over. Six runs were needed in the final over. On the penultimate ball of the innings, Sharath hit a six to finish off the run chase.
Shivamogga won the match by seven wickets with a ball to spare. Sharath remained unbeaten for 31 off 11 balls including two fours and three sixes. Shivaraj contributed with a 17-ball 27 comprising three fours and a six.
Earlier, Gopal won the toss and opted to bowl first. Aadarsh Prajwal and Smaran R's knocks followed by cameos from Srinivas Sharath and Avinash D helped Mystics post 175/6. Kranthi Kumar was the pick of the bowlers with an economical three-fer.
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