Bengaluru Blasters Triumph Over Mangaluru Dragons in Thrilling Maharaja Trophy Clash
Exciting Match Highlights
Mysuru (Karnataka) [India], August 18: In a gripping encounter at the Maharaja Trophy, the Bengaluru Blasters emerged victorious against the Mangaluru Dragons, thanks to a stellar half-century from Chethan LR, leading to a three-wicket win over the league leaders.
The match was shortened to 19 overs per side, with the Dragons setting a competitive total of 174/6. Lochan Gowda and Sharath BR provided a fiery start, but the Blasters' bowlers, particularly Prateek Jain (2/45) and Mohsin Khan (2/26), managed to rein them in. Kranthi Kumar also shone for the Dragons, taking two wickets for 28 runs.
The Blasters' innings began with a strong performance from their openers, Chethan LR (74 runs off 46 balls) and Rohan Patil (26 runs off 13 balls), who helped the team reach 69/1 by the end of the powerplay. Although Rohan was dismissed LBW by Macneil Noronha, Chethan continued to dominate the bowlers, reaching his half-century in just 30 balls.
Mayank Agarawal contributed a quick 20 runs, but it was Bhuvan Raju (14 runs off 15 balls) who partnered with Chethan for a crucial 55-run stand. Bhuvan's innings ended when he was dismissed by skipper Shreyas Gopal, leaving the score at 129/3.
Suraj Ahuja added 21 runs off 12 balls, forming a brief partnership with Chethan before being run out. Despite some tense moments towards the end, Naveen MG (4* off 8) and Vidyadhar Patil (6* off 3) secured the final runs needed for victory.
Batting first, the Dragons' opening duo of Lochan Gowda (49 runs off 32 balls) and Sharath BR (45 runs off 22 balls) set the tone with an explosive start, achieving the highest powerplay score of the season with 82 runs in just 5.4 overs. Both players struck multiple boundaries, but their innings were curtailed by Mohsin Khan, who took crucial wickets in the middle overs.
As the innings progressed, the Dragons faced difficulties, losing wickets at regular intervals. Shivaraj S (33* off 15) provided a late surge, helping the team finish at 174/6.
Final Scores: Mangaluru Dragons 174/6 in 19 overs (Lochan Gowda 49, Sharath BR 45; Prateek Jain 2/45, Mohsin Khan 2/26) vs Bengaluru Blasters 175/7 in 18.3 overs (Chethan LR 74, Rohan Patil 26; Kranthi Kumar 2/28).