Semi Finals Two: Bangalore Provident Rural vs Malnad Gladiators at Bangalore on 29.09.10. Bangalore Provident Rural won by six wickets

Put into bat, Malnad Gladiators could muster 157 for five in its 20.0 overs. It could not bat freely and score as much they wanted. Injured KC Avinash batting at number three made 21, occupied the crease for 43 minutes facing 30 deliveries with no fours and no sixes. His stay at the crease has an adverse effect on the batting of the team. Opener Sanjay Kumar scored 47 in 38 balls with five fours and two sixes and occupied the crease for 40 minutes. Skipper Ganesh Satish made 34 in 27 balls containing four fours and a six in a stay of 37 minutes at the crease. Though K Gowtham {18 in 10 balls with two fours and a six} and RR Bhatkal {26 not out in 12 balls with 12 balls with four fours and six} scored runs in a late order flourish, it was too late for Malnad Gladiators to put up a match-winning total. Sanjay Kumar and KC Avinash added 64 runs for the second wicket in 9.3 overs was another contributing factor for Malnad Gladiators’ total. AU Shetty with 2 for 18 was the most successful bowler for Provident.

Chasing 158 for a win, Provident openers – MK Manjunath and VST Naidu put on 62 runs for the first wicket and the victory was never in doubt for Provident. The first wicket partnership was consolidated by yet another useful stand of 47 runs for the fourth wicket between B Akhil and AA Joshi.

MK Manjunath {30 in 29 balls with two fours and two sixes}, VST Naidu {44 runs in 35 balls with six fours and one six} and skipper B Akhil {45 not out in 22 balls with four fours and three sixes} contributed to Provident’s comfortable win.

As many as three bowlers – K Gowtham {1 for 42}, SK Moinuddin {1 for 38} and RR Bhatkal {1 for 35} – conceded 35 plus runs, which did not help Gladiators’ cause.

Gladiators gain in this edition, was its progress to Semi finals. They were placed last in the first edition of the first edition {It had lost five game and won two games to end with four points and NRR of -0.122}

Summarised scores: Malnad Gladiators 157 for 5 in 20.0 overs {Sanjay Kumar 47, Ganesh Satish 34, RR Bhatkal 26 not out, AU Shetty 2 for 18 lost to Bangalore Provident Rural 158 for 4 {B Akhil 45 not out, VST Naidu 44, MK Manjunath 30} by six wickets