Already secure in the semifinals, the Mysore Warriors clinched their sixth win in the Shriram Capital Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, powered by FanCode, with a decisive six-wicket victory over the Mangaluru Dragons.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium witnessed a dominant 107-run partnership between Karun Nair (64) and Karthik SU (69), steering Mysore to chase down the 179-run target in just 18.4 overs. Despite KV Siddharth’s valiant half-century for Mangalore, the combined efforts of K Gowtham (2/18), Karthik CA (2/27), and Manoj Bhandage (2/29) restricted their batting prowess.
In reply, the Mysore openers, Karthik CA (14) and Karthik SU (69) made a solid start, amassing 36 runs during the powerplay. Although slightly behind the required run rate, both batsmen appeared in fine form. Shreyas Gopal disrupted the 42-run stand in the seventh over, bringing Karun Nair (64) to the crease.
Karthik SU soon found his rhythm against the spinners, reaching a 42-ball half-century with four boundaries and two sixes. Karun Nair made an explosive start with a boundary and soon brought up his fourth half-century of the tournament in the 14th over, with a blistering 24-ball knock featuring five fours and three sixes.
By the 15-over mark, the Warriors needed 44 runs and were well-positioned for a swift victory. Their impressive 107-run partnership, which came in just 57 deliveries, ended when Karthik SU was dismissed by Advit Shetty in the 17th over. Noronha briefly threatened with a reverse-sweep six off Nair in the 18th over but was soon dismissed along with K Gowtham in the same over.
Despite the minor hiccup, Manoj Bhandage (10*) and J Suchith (9*) saw Mysore home with six wickets in hand and eight balls to spare.
Batting first, Mangaluru lost Rohan Patil (12) to Karthik CA in the third over. Promoted to open, Tushar Singh (43) took full advantage of the powerplay, smashing five boundaries and a six. Nikin Jose (14) added three boundaries off Dhanush Gowda before being dismissed in the same over, leaving Mangalore at 56/2 after six overs.
KV Siddharth anchored the innings while Tushar Singh continued to build momentum with three more boundaries before being caught and bowled by Krishnappa Gowtham. A direct hit from Dhanush Gowda removed Macneil Noronha (1), leaving Mangalore at 84/4 in 10.1 overs.
K Gowtham struck again, dismissing Shreyas Gopal (2) in the 12th over. KV Siddharth, who had made 25 runs from 25 balls, reached his half-century in just 35 balls, with four fours and two sixes, before being caught behind off Karthik CA at 149/6 in 17 overs.
Manoj Bhandage later dismissed Lochan Gowda (25), who had hit two sixes and a four in his brisk innings. Darshan MB struck two sixes in the final over before falling to Bhandage, leaving the Mangaluru Dragons to finish their innings at 178/9 in 20 overs. UNI BDN AKS
