Stuart Binny from Belagavi: "I think they showed some courage. Wickets got us back in this game. Pretty pleased with the boys. I think we can feel much better. In this format if you miss your chances you are going to go down."
Aniruddha Joshi from Shivamogga(speaking in place of Mithun): "I think we got the score we wanted. All the bowlers also bowled well but the catches we dropped hurt us really bad. You have to take your catches. If you drop catches, it will hurt you and it hurt us for sure."
Dikshanshu Negi from Belagavi, man of the match: "I think it was a crucial knock. We wanted to continue with the same momentum from the last game. I think this game should give us the momentum going forward."
With the loss, Shivamogga Lions have been ensured of a bottom-four finish. It is extremely sad that the side has not yet been able to win in the tournament, despite having a decent side to their name.
It was supposed to be an easy win for the Panthers, and that was what it was.
Dikshanshu started the show with a well-compsed fifty, after which cameos from captain Binny and Avinash helped Belagavi cross the finish line. Just like the first innings, it started well, but then things slowed down. One thing that was different from the first innings was the dew factor, which in turn ended up helping the batting side. Also, Binny and Avinsah getting dropped did not help the Lions any better.
It was a good start that the Lions received, in terms of run-rate, with both openers doing well in the first five overs. But afterwards, wickets started falling and the run-rate started dipping, falling to less than 7 by the end of the tenth over and going even further down. The same side which scored 49 from the first five overs, took another 60 balls to score 51 more runs. Skipper Aniruddha Joshi led some fine assault in the final five overs, carrying the team across 150 and also scoring a fine half-ton in the process.
For Belagavi, youngster Shubhang Hegde did a great job with the ball, giving away just twelve runs from four overs, taking a wicket - he bowled a maiden as well.
In a few minutes, we will be back with the chase. Belagavi will have to do well with the willow to cross this target now. Stay tuned for further updates.