KPL 2015: Bijapur halt Shivamogga's winning run in last-ball thriller to top table

Hubballi, Sep 9: In a last-over thriller, Bijapur Bulls ended Namma Shivamogga's unbeaten run and moved to the top of the table in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) 2015 here today.

Newcomers Shivamogga, who had won 3 consecutive matches so far in the league, were on Wednesday defeated by Bijapur by 7 wickets.

Bijapur are now on top of the league table with 7 points from 4 matches (3 wins and 1 no result) while the Stuart Binny-led Shivamogga are second with 6 points from 4 games.

Chasing 162, Bijapur were given a rapid start by openers R Samarth (78 not out, 60 balls, 8x4, 1x6) and Rajoo Bhatkal (39). The duo added 81 runs in 9.2 overs for the first wicket.

After the exit of Bhatkal, Robin Uthappa (36) joined Samarth and the pair took the team closer to victory. Uthappa fell with Bijapur needing 13 from 12 balls.

With 7 required off the final 6 balls bowled by Bhavesh Gulecha, Bijapur clinched victory off the last ball. With 1 run needed, Suneel Raju (10 not out) hit a boundary off the final ball as Bijapur ended on 165/3 in 20 overs.

Man-of-the-match, Samarth said, "It was a good game and we bowled very well on this wicket. Probably gave away 15 to 20 runs extra but we knew we could cover it up with your batting. Personally, I thought I played too many dot balls at the end but we did manage to hold our nerve to a clinical finish."

Earlier, Sadiq Kirmani struck his 2nd half century in as many days and Mir Kaunain Abbas too scored a fifty to help Shivamogga to 161/7 in 20 overs.

Sadiq, son of former India wicketkeeper and 1983 World Cup winner, Syed Kirmani, scored 61 off 43 balls with 4 fours and 5 sixes.

Abbas made a 42-ball 58 with the help of 2 fours and 3 sixes. For Bijapur, paceman Vyshak Vijay Kumar was the most successful bowler with 3/20 in 4 overs.

FULL SCORECARD

Namma Shivamogga

Sadiq Kirmani c B Akhil b KP Appanna 61 (43b, 4x4, 5x6); Samarth Ooty c Robin b Vyshak 3; Kaunain Abbas c R Samarth b Cariappa 58 (42b, 2x4, 3x6); Stuart Binny c Uthappa b Vyshak 1; Aditya B Sagar (run out) 2; Shreyas Gopal (not out) 17; KV Siddarth c Appanna b Abhimanyu Mithun; Dinesh Bowrankar b Vyshak 12

Extras: (b-1, wd-1 lb-2, nb-2) 5

Total: (For 7 wickets, 20 overs) 161

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Ooty); 2-94 (Kirmani); 3-96 (Binny); 4-106 (Sagar); 5-139 (Abbas); 6-143 (Siddarth); 7-161 (Borwankar)

Bowling: Abhimanyu Mithun 4-1-31-1; Vyshak Vijay Kumar 4-0-20-3; Rajoo Bhatkal 2-0-23-0; R Samarth 1-0-10-0; KP Appanna 4-0-32-1; KC Cariappa 4-0-27-1; B Akhil 1-0-16-0

Bijapur Bulls

R Samarth (not out) 78 (60b, 8x4, 1x6); Rajoo Bhatkal S Ooty b S Gopal 39 (40b, 5x4); Robin Uthappa c Shreyas G b Bhavesh Gulecha 36 (24b, 3x4, 1x6); Nidesh (run out) 0; Suneel Raju (not out) 12 (5b, 1x4, 1x6)

Extras: (wd-2) 2

Total: (For 3 wickets, 20 overs) 167

Fall of wickets: 1-81 (Bhatkal); 2-149 (Uthappa); 3-149 (Nidesh)

Bowling: Bhavesh Gulecha 4-0-41-1; Aditya B Sagar 4-0-38-0; Shreyas Gopal 4-0-35-1; Sinan Abdul Khader 4-0-25-0; Raghavendra D 4-0-28-0.

Toss: Won by Namma Shivamogga; opted to bat

Result: Bijapur Bulls won by seven wickets

OneIndia News