Riding on an unbeaten half-century from R Samarth, Bijapur Bulls opened their account after beating Hubli Tigers by seven wickets in the Karbonn Karnataka Premier League at the KSCA Stadium in Rajnagar here on Monday.
After Mohammed Taha had helped the Tigers to 188/7 with a blistering knock of 89 from 56 balls, the Bulls chased down the target with two balls to spare thanks to Samarth’s 89 off 54 balls.
Put into bat after Robin Uttappa-led Bijapur Bulls had won the toss and elected to field, the Tigers began briskly with openers Taha and Abhishek Reddy getting down to business immediately.
Bijapur had raced to 118 for one in just 12.1 overs when Reddy was caught by Samarth off Sinan A Khader for 42.
With the fall of Reddy, it seemed like the Tigers had lost a little momentum as wickets tumbled at regular intervals with Taha waging a lonely battle. He, however, fell to Zahoor Faroqui in the 17th over for 89. The incoming batsmen tried to force the pace but only perished in the process eventually posting 188/7.
Bijapur still were faced with a stiff task of having to go at over nine runs an over and went for it from the word go. Samarth and MG Naveen spurred their side to 48 in five overs before Naveen was snapped by Stalin Hoover for 20. The wicket did not deter Samarth, who along with skipper Robin Uthappa (51 off 33), motored along to take their side within sniffing distance of a victory.
Uthappa could not finish the job and was dismissed in the 17th over but the damage had been done and Samarth took Bijapur home in 19.4 overs.
Shekhawat slams ton
In the second match of the evening, Mangalore United’s opener Nishant Shekhawat became the first batsman to score a century in the fifth edition, as Rockstars were handed their second successive defeat.
Shekhawat (106) peppered fours and sixes in an outstanding exhibition of T20 batting, as his hundred lifted United to winning total of 195 in 20 overs.
Brief scores: Hubli Tigers 188/7 in 20 overs (Mohammed Taha 89, Abhishek Reddy 42; Sinan Abdul Kader 2/28, Naveen MG 2/23) lt to Bijapur Bulls: 191/3 in 19.4 overs (R Samarth 87 n.o., Robin Uthappa 51; Stalin Hoover 2/32); Mangalore United: 195/3 in 20 overs (Nishant Shekhawat 106, C Gautam 32; Ronit More 2-9, Bhareth NP 2-27) bt Rockstars: 142/7 in 20 overs (M Mohan 32, R Bhatkal 49).
Published 19 September 2016, 19:08 IST