Mysuru: Bijapur Bulls defeated Belagavi Panthers by six wickets to enter the finals of the fourth edition of the Karnataka Premier League with the help of fine spin bowling from KP Appanna and KC Cariappa who took three wickets each and a scintillating batting display by Robin Uthappa who scored 50 runs, at the match held at SDNR Wadiyar ground here on Friday.
After opting for the opponents to bat, Bijapur Bulls’ bowler especially the spinners, were bang on target. Medium pacer Vyshak Vijay Kumar gave the first break to Bijapur Bulls by taking out the wicket of attacking batsman Stalin Hoover. Skipper B Akhil used his bowler well which made life difficult for Belagavi batsmen. Apart from the number three batsman Abhishek Reddy and a useful contribution from lower order batsmen KN Bharath and Praveen Dubey who contributed valuable 14 and 15 runs, none of the batsmen failed to deliver, which resulted in Bijapur Bulls to settle for 118 runs in 20 overs before losing their eight wickets.
Chasing almost six runs in an over, Bijapur Bulls got off to a disastrous start, as one of their opening batsman Samarth got out LBW in the very second ball of the innings of Vinay Kumar’s bowling. Later, one down batsman Robin Uthappa and opening batsman Rajoo Bhatkal added crucial 73 runs for the second wicket before Robin Uthappa, after well made 50 runs got out to medium pacer Stalin Hoover, when the score was 73 in the 10th over of the match. His innings which came in at 41 balls studded with five boundaries and three sixes. Later, Suneel Raju and Nidesh added unbroken 22 runs for the fifth wicket to take their team to a six wicket victory. Stalin who took two wickets was the pick of the bowler for Belagavi Panthers. Appanna who bowled well to take three wickets, conceding just 18 runs, in his four over spell was awarded man of the match award.
In the second qualifier, Hubli Tigers will take on Belagavi Panthers on Saturday at 5pm.
Belagavi Panthers: Stallin Hoover c Suneel Raju b Vyshak V 1; Vinay Kumar c Rajoo B b Akhil B 8; Abhishek Reddy c Akhil B b Appanna KP 27 (27b, 4×4); Jonathan Ibw Appanna KP 15; Zeeshan Ali Sayyed c Samarth R b KC Cariappa 4; Chiranjeevi GS st R Uthappa b Appanna KP 2; KN Bharath c Appanna KP b KC Cariappa 14; Praveen D c Deepak Chougule b KC Cariappa 15; Extras (b2, Ib 5, w1) 8.
Total (For Eight wickets, 20 overs) 118
Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Stallin Hoover); 2-31 (Vinay Kumar); 3-52 (Abhishek Reddy); 4-52 (Jonathan); 5-62 (Zeeshan Ali Sayyed); 6-66 (Chiranjeevi GS); 7-88 (KN Bharath); 8-102 (Praveen D);
Bowling: Abhimanyu Mithun 4-0-23-0; Vyshak V 3-0-17-1; Rajoo Bhatkal 2-0-16-0; Akhil Balachandra 1-0-4-1; Suneel Raju 2-0-9-0; Appanna KP 4-0-18-3; Cariappa KC 4-0-24-3.
Bijapur Bulls:Samarth R Ibw Vinay Kumar 0; Robin Uthappa c Praveen D b Stallin Hoover 50 (41b, 5×4, 3×6); Rajoo Bhatkal c Vinay Kumar b Stallin Hoover 23 (23b, 3×4); Akhil Balachandra c Bharath KN b Sharath HS 13; Suneel Raju 19 (not out); Nidesh M 11 (not out) Extras (b1, Ib 2, w3) 6
Total (For Four Wickets, 16.4 overs) 122
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Samarth R); 2-73 (Robin Uthappa); 3-81 (Rajoo Bhatkal); 4-100 (Akhil Balachandra);
Bowling: Vinay Kumar 3-0-13-1; Sharath HS 3-0-20-1; Praveen Dubey 4-0-27-0; Stallin Hoover 3-0-20-2; Vinu Prasad 2-0-20-0; Bharath KN 1-0-11-0; Zeeshan Ali Sayyed 0.4-0-8-0.
Toss: Bijapur Bulls won the toss and elect to bowl first
Result: Bijapur Bulls won by six wickets
