Match No 16 : Mangalore United vs Malnad Gladiators at Bangalore on 23.09.10 : Mangalore United won by 2 runs

It was so near but yet not so far for Malnad Gladiators. Victors and the vanquished were separated by two runs.

Chasing a total of 136 set by Mangalore United fell short of the target by two runs in a thrilling finish. It was a heart breaking loss for Gladiators. Sanjay Kumar and N Hegde’s last over fireworks was not enough for Gladiators. They required 25 runs for a win of the last over. Sanjay Kumar deposited the first two deliveries over the boundary ropes of the first two deliveries and was caught in the deep when he repeated the stroke of the third delivery. N Hegde scored two and four of the next two deliveries. Of the last ball he hit a boundary when seven were neeed for a win and six for a tie. The last ball four handed a defeat by two runs.

Put into bat Mangalore United lost its two wickets with a single digit on the board, but its innings was propped up by a 49 runs stand for the third wicket between Nidhuvan Kumar and R Jonathan. 35 runs partnership between V Chavan and AF Pasha for the seventh wicket boosted Mangalore United’s total to 135. Mangalore United became the first team to be dismissed all out in this edition of KPL

Nidhvan Kumar {24}, R Jonathan {28}, V Chavan {29} and AF Pasha {27} were the four batsmen who reached double figures and their contribution was the mainstay of Mangalore’s innings. RR Bhatkal picked up 3 for 21 for Gladiators and was well supported by K Gowtham who had figures of 2 for 27

RR Bhatkal {30} and N Hegde {26 not out} contributed to Malnad’s total of 133 for 7.

Slow and sedate batting display cost Gladiators this match. Ganesh Satish scored 19 runs in 32 balls and, RR Bhatkal’s 30 came in 25 balls, The second wicket partnership of 32 runs between Ganesh Satish and KC Avinsah came in 6.3 overs. Gladiator’s score card read 3 for 58 at the fall of Ganesh Satish’s wicket in 11.1 overs. Efforts to up the tempo resulted in fall of wickets. Only a last ditch effort in the last over by Sanjay Kumar and N Hegde brought them closer to the victory but not the victory

RR Bhatkal {30}, N Hegde {26 not out}, Ganesh Satish {19}, KC Avinash {18} and Sanjay Kuamr {16} reached double figures in this match. UB Patel with 3 for 22 was the most successful bowler for Mangalore United. He was ably supported by Aleem who took 2 for 44

RR Bhatkal’s all round performance – 30 and 3 for 21 – went in vain as Gladiators lost the game by two runs. Satish brothers – Sandesh and Ganesh – appeared in this match.

Summarised scores : Mangalore United 135 in 19.4 overs {V Chavan 29, R Jonathan 27, MA Pasha 27, Nidhuvan Kumar 24, RR Bhatkal 3 for 21, K Gowthan 2 for 29} beat Malnad Gladiators 133 for 7 in 20.0 overs {RR Bhatkal 30, N Hegde 26 not out, UB Patel 3 for 22, Aleem 2 for 44} by two runs