Bharat Chipli, winning skipper: "I think we batted badly. We lost 5 wickets in the middle overs. We need to show more application in the knockout matches. The ball was coming on nicely so I thought I will take my chances."
Aniruddha Joshi, losing skipper: "We are fighting till the last but we are not able to close matches. We have a good side. I bowled four overs in a row as I thought at that time I have to take wickets. I enjoy captaincy, as a senior player I have to take responsibility. Next year we will come back stronger."
KP Appanna, Man of the Match: "We should have finished the match a lot earlier. People believed in me. We were just 1 hit from winning. I have played KPL after a long time as I was injured. I am expected to bowl in the first six overs. Arm-ball is one of strength."
The Shivamogga Lions will still be in pursuit for their first win that has so sadly eluded them so far. The Bijapur Bulls, meanwhile, end their group-stage run with the win.
In rhetoric, the close finish was more about Bijapur Bulls' complacency than Shivamogga Lions' bowling effort. The intent just disappeared after Chipli was dismissed. They went almost five overs without a boundary. It was only because Chipli had given them that start they could take their time and the experience of Raju came in handy at the end.
WICKET! Kaunain Abbas c Adhoksh Hegde b Somanna 51(45) [4s-4 6s-2]
Slower delivery on a length, Abbas heaves and the bat turns on impact, does not get the elevation and Hegde runs to his right from long-on to cling on, good catch.
WICKET! KN Bharath c Harish Kumar b Moinuddin 6(12)
Backs away to go inside out, connects well but there is a fielder placed for that particular shot, Harish runs to his left from deep extra and hangs on. Fall of wicket 107/5 in 14.4 overs.
Nicely tossed up off-break around off, Shrijith went down on his knee to play the sweep, the ball arrived a bit late and hence the under edge, the ball rolls onto the stumps.
WICKET! Chipli c Somanna b Aniruddha Joshi 43(18) [4s-8 6s-1]
This was a sensational catch from Somanna. One of the very best you would ever see. Chipli powers it over long-on, he took the catch, goes over the ropes, drags it back in, comes back in and holds onto the catch. At no time, his feet were touching the ropes when he had the ball. Umpire went upstairs and OUT is the final decision.
It was the perfect start for the Lions again, but the Bulls have since bounced back in the batting powerplay. 53 runs in the last four overs. Also, they need less than a run-a-ball now.
Until then, see you!