Gopal and Nair orchestrate stunning chase
Shreyas Gopal delivered a match-winning all-round performance to guide Coastal Kings Mangaluru to a six-wicket victory over Mysore Warriors in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament on Thursday. Gopal remained unbeaten on 84 off 43 balls, smashing nine fours and three sixes, and earlier claimed two wickets for 25 runs. He was well supported by Karun Nair, who scored a brisk 61 off 32 balls (six fours, three sixes) as the pair added 123 runs for the fourth wicket in just 60 balls.
Coastal Kings recover from early wobble
Chasing a target of 192, Coastal Kings were in trouble at 42 for 3 in the fifth over. However, Nair and Gopal counter-attacked brilliantly, with Nair falling while attempting another big hit. Gopal remained unperturbed and saw his side home with 18 balls to spare. The win was Coastal Kings' second in four matches, lifting them to second place on the table with five points.
Chethan's fireworks in vain for Warriors
Earlier, Mysore Warriors were put into bat and posted 191 for 9 in 20 overs, largely thanks to opener Chethan LR, who followed up his previous century with a 35-ball 67 (four fours, six sixes). Yuvraj Arora contributed 37 off 22 balls. Vasuki Koushik was the pick of the Coastal Kings bowlers with 3 for 43. The Warriors suffered their third loss in four matches and remained at the bottom of the standings with two points.
Brief scores: Mysore Warriors 191-9 in 20 overs (L R Chethan 67, Yuvraj Arora 37; Vasuki Koushik 3-43, Shreyas Gopal 2-25) lost to Coastal Kings Mangaluru 195-4 in 17 overs (Karun Nair 61, Shreyas Gopal 84*; Arbind Kumar Rai 2-31) by six wickets.
