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That brings us to the end of our coverage for the final group match of the Maharaja Trophy. The first semi final coming up tomorrow. Do join us then and for many more cricketing action all through tomorrow. For now, this is myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Rudransh Khurrana.
Vijaykumar Vyshak is the Player of the Match for his exceptional all-round effort. He is also the vice-captain and will speak for Devdutt Padikkal who is unwell: He should be fine (speaking on Devdutt Padikkal), it was more or a precautionary measure. Well I think coaches have trusted my batting so they promoted me up the order and it's nice to contribute to the winning cause. Tomorrow is a new day so we always make sure we come back fresh and hopefully we can carry the winning momentum and turn it around. Yeah I think, boys have really worked hard. Ten games is not easy. Smaran has been batting really well but he had a niggle which is why he had to rest. Hopefully we can restrict the opposition to a low score and qualify for the final.
Gulbarga Mystics won by 4 wickets (with five deliveries to spare)
The Gulbarga Mystics came from behind in the run chase and chased down the target of 180 quiet comfortably in the end. It was the partnership between Rithesh Bhatkal and Praveen Dubey which helped them recover from a precarious situation and win it will with five deliveries to spare. It wasn't a massive target for the Gulbarga Mystics to chase down but a sensible start was required to set the platform for a rather comfortable run chase.
However, it was exactly the opposite at the beginning of the run chase. Aneesh KV was dismissed off very first over bowled by Vidwath Kaverappa who hit the hard lengths and conceded just 5 runs in his first two overs for a couple of wickets. BR Sharath who was making a comeback came out all guns blazing and struck three boundaries of the first four deliveries.
Sisodia also struck a six to get going but just when these two looked to take the game away from the Hubli Tigers, Kaverappa struck again with KC Cariappa cleaning up Luvnith with a brilliant arm ball. Vijaykumar Vyshak was sent up the order and along with Sourabh Muttur, they began the rebuilding job. Vyshak took the attack to the Hubli Tigers bowlers and reached a brilliant half-century off just 31 deliveries.
He shared a 42-run stand with Muttur before Prakash Bajaj got the breakthrough. Prithviraj Shekawat was the last man in and when these two were going great guns, it looked like the Gulbarga Mystics would chase this down easily however Vyshak and Prithviraj departed in quick intervals which again tilted in favour of the Hubli Tigers.
Devdutt Padikkal didn't come out to bat as Luvnith mentioned in the interview that he is down with a fever and it might be a precautionary measure before the semi final. Just when the pressure was building on the Mystics, it was the duo of Rithesh Bhatkal and Praveen Dubey who turned it on with a sensational counter-attacking stand.
Bhatkal and Praveen Dubey batted brilliantly and struck some exceptional shots to make the stiff run chase look an easy one. Praveen Dubey turned it on in the last two overs of the game while Bhatkal also remained unbeaten on 35 off 19 deliveries. Meanwhile, Dubey was undefeated on 34 off 14 deliveries as the Mystics won with five deliveries to spare. Kaverappa, KC Cariappa and Madhav Prakash Bajaj bagged a couple of wickets each for the Hubli Tigers.
19.1 Nischith Pai to Praveen Dubey, FOUR! Massive win. Clinical and absolutely special considering they did it with just their all-rounders! Short and wide, slashes it hard over the close-in fielders to the fence!
That over has sealed the game for the Gulbarga Mystics. 17 runs coming off that penultimate over from Kaverappa and the Mystics just need one more run to win. What an exceptional run chase this has been from the batting unit despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
19
overs
179/6score
4
4
1
6
2
0
runs
Rithesh Bhatkal*
35(19)
Praveen Dubey
30(13)
Vidhwath Kaverappa
2/31
18.6 Vidhwath Kaverappa to Rithesh Bhatkal, full toss just outside off, looks to turn it for a single but ends up pushing it back
18.5 Vidhwath Kaverappa to Rithesh Bhatkal, full and wide, slices it high over point where the fielder doesn't pick it and the ball hits hard on his finger at the last moment. Concedes two.
18.4 Vidhwath Kaverappa to Rithesh Bhatkal, SIX! Full outside off, jams his bat under it and muscles it over long off!
18.3 Vidhwath Kaverappa to Praveen Dubey, slow and quite wide outside off, hacked to long off for one
18.2 Vidhwath Kaverappa to Praveen Dubey, FOUR MORE! This time full toss outside off, Dubey throws the kitchen sink and the ball now hurls to deep backward point!
18.1 Vidhwath Kaverappa to Praveen Dubey, FOUR! Full and wide outside off, Dubey slices hard with his bat face open and the ball flies over third man!
Vidwath Kaverappa [3-0-14-2] is back into the attack.
That's the end of the 18th over and the equation noy too difficult for the Gulbarga Mystics. Just 18 more required and with two set batters out there, they will back themselves to chase this down.
18
overs
162/6score
1
1
1
4
1
0
runs
Rithesh Bhatkal*
27(16)
Praveen Dubey
21(10)
Madhav Prakash Bajaj
2/35
17.6 Madhav Prakash Bajaj to Rithesh Bhatkal, DROPPED! Charges down the ground and slashes this shortish ball. Gets late and directs it straight back to the bowler who doesn't hold on this time!
17.5 Madhav Prakash Bajaj to Praveen Dubey, flat on middle and leg, pulled to long on for one
17.4 Madhav Prakash Bajaj to Praveen Dubey, FOUR! Full down the leg, goes low and sweeps it over deep fine leg!
17.3 Madhav Prakash Bajaj to Rithesh Bhatkal, down the track and slashes it to deep mid-wicket for one
17.2 Madhav Prakash Bajaj to Praveen Dubey, flat on middle and leg, tapped to mid-wicket for one