Gulbarga Mystics and Bengaluru Blasters locked horns in the title match of the inaugural edition of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2022. The game was played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. It was a treat to watch for the fans in the stadium as it was a high-scoring encounter. So, without further ado, let’s have a look at what exactly went down in the first-ever title clash in the history of the tournament.
Final: Bengaluru Blasters vs Gulbarga Mystics
In such a high-voltage game, the home team won the toss and elected to bowl first. However, little did they know that the decision would prove to be a bad one for Blasters. Mystics openers, Jeswanth Acharya and Rohan Patil put together 60 runs in just 5.1 overs. Patil scored 38 off just 21 balls, including six fours and a six, and was the first wicket to fall. Acharya (39) followed in the seventh over. At 82/2 in 6.4 overs, Devdutt Padikkal and wicketkeeper batter Krishnan Shrijith stitched a partnership of 76 runs in 9.5 overs.
Shrijith scored 38 off 25 balls including two sixes and as many fours before falling to Aniruddha Joshi. At 158/3 in 15.3 overs, skipper Manish Pandey came and drifted the game away from the home team. He scored an unbeaten 41 off just 17 balls including two fours and four sixes. Pandey and Padikkal put together an unbeaten partnership of 62 runs. The latter scored an unbeaten 56 off 42 balls, with a six and five fours and helped the team amass 220/3.
In reply, the Mayank Agarwal-led side had a poor start. The skipper of the team started well with 16 off 10 balls but fell to Rithesh Bhatkal. After this, players such as Kush Marathe, Shivkumar Rakshith, Aniruddha Joshi, and Jagadeesha Suchith got only single-digit scores. This meant that the team was tottering at 63/5. However, the partnership of 98 runs between LR Chethan (91) and Kranthi Kumar (47) kept the team in chase.
At 161/5 in 15 overs, Chethan missed out on his hundred. Kumar scored 47 off just 21 balls. Ronit More scored an unbeaten 22 off 14 but could take the team over the line. They lost the game by 11 runs.
Brief scores
GM: 220/3
Devdutt Padikkal (56*), Manish Pandey (41*)
BB: 209/9
LR Chethan (91), Kranti Kumar (47)
Rithesh Bhatkal: 3-0-20-2, Manoj Bhandage: 3-0-32-3
