Shubhang Hegde's all-round brilliance powered Bengaluru Blasters to a thrilling six-wicket victory over Gulbarga Mystics in the opening match of the DACSS Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament at Mysuru on Saturday. Chasing a daunting 201, the Blasters reached the target off the final ball, finishing at 202 for four in 20 overs.
Gulbarga Mystics post 201 after strong batting display
Batting first, Gulbarga Mystics posted 201 for five in their allotted 20 overs, driven by half-centuries from Prakhar Chaturvedi and Aarav Mahesh. Chaturvedi smashed 64 off 38 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes, while Mahesh contributed 63 off 41 deliveries, including six fours and three sixes. Captain Manish Pandey chipped in with 19 runs, and Thippa Reddy added a quickfire 20 off 12 balls to push the total past the 200-mark. For Bengaluru Blasters, Shubhang Hegde and Shreevathsa Acharya were the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets each, conceding 44 and 36 runs respectively. Samit Dravid also took one wicket for 31 runs.
Blasters' openers set the tone with 88-run stand
In reply, Bengaluru Blasters got off to a flying start as openers Bhuvan Mohan Raju and Rohan Patil added 88 runs in just 7.1 overs. Raju was particularly aggressive, scoring 56 off 29 balls at a strike rate of 193.10, with three fours and four sixes. Patil contributed a steady 31 runs, rotating the strike effectively. The partnership laid a solid foundation for the chase, though Gulbarga fought back with quick wickets to reduce the Blasters to 122 for three in 11.3 overs.
Middle-order holds nerve in tense chase
After the fall of openers, Krishnan Shrijith and Shubhang Hegde steadied the innings with a crucial partnership. Shrijith made 22 off 15 balls, hitting three fours, while Hegde played a composed knock of 36 off 26 deliveries, including two fours and a six. Their alliance brought the Blasters close to the target. In the final overs, Praveen Dubey provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 32 off just 17 balls, featuring two fours and a six, guiding his team to victory with the last ball of the match.
Bowling figures and key performers
For Gulbarga Mystics, Paras Gurbax Arya was the most successful bowler, taking two wickets for 34 runs. Macneil Noronha and Dhruv Prabhakar picked up one wicket each, conceding 27 and 29 runs respectively. Despite their efforts, the Blasters' deep batting lineup proved too strong.
Brief scores summary
Gulbarga Mystics: 201-5 in 20 overs (Prakhar Chaturvedi 64, Aarav Mahesh 63, Thippa Reddy 20; Shubhang Hegde 2-44, Shreevathsa Acharya 2-36) lost to Bengaluru Blasters: 202-4 in 20 overs (Bhuvan Mohan Raju 56, Rohan Patil 31, Shubhang Hegde 36, Praveen Dubey 32 not out; Paras Gurbax Arya 2-34). The win gives Bengaluru Blasters a flying start in the tournament, while Gulbarga Mystics will look to bounce back in their next fixture.
