Bengaluru: While numbers alone cannot do justice to Bengaluru Blasters’ brilliance over the last three weeks, they nevertheless provide evidence of their dominance in the fifth edition of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20. And coming into the final at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, their game was dotted with certainty.
However, little-fancied Shivamogga Yodhas flipped the script and brought the Blasters to their knees, as the debutants were left holding the trophy following a thrilling four-wicket win.
After the Yodhas restricted Bengaluru to a competitive 185/8 on a tacky wicket, skipper Luvnith Sisodia (87, 45b) merged aggression with finesse, while Aneesh KV’s (38, 19b) brilliance was worth its weight in gold, taking the Yodhas to 186/6 in 19.4 overs.
Luvnith was all fluency and skilful stroke-making, smashing nine fours and four sixes while Aneesh hit his way out of pressure with distinction, pocketing four sixes.
For Bengaluru, Samit Dravid was the pick of the bowlers with 4/36. Stung by their failure to wear the crown after making the final twice in the last four years, Bengaluru were left waiting for their coronation.
Earlier, Blasters’ Faizan Khan (29, 8b) and Rohan Naveen (25 n.o., 8b) took it upon themselves to breathe life into their innings that looked like it was going nowhere.
Faizan kicked off the assault in the 19th over and his big hits was then matched by Rohan, who hit Abhilash Shetty (1/54) for four consecutive sixes in the final over, adding 67 in the last four.
Opting to bat first and riding on Bhuvan Raju’s (23, 10b) early blitz, Bengaluru were pulled back as Yodhas picked up three wickets in six balls. Samit (37, 37b) and Shubhang Hegde (31, 31b) then made up for a shoddy batting in the powerplay to steady the ship.
While Shubhang looked scratchy, Samit was quick to get off the blocks, stitching a 56-run stand as their composure ensured the Blasters did not stumble lose their way.
Brief scores:
Bengaluru Blasters: 185/8 in 20 overs (Samit Dravid 37, Shubhang Hegde 31, Faizan Khan 29, Rohan Naveen 25 n.o.; Dhanush Gowda 2-37) lt to Shivamogga Yodhas: 186/6 in 19.4 overs (Luvnith Sisodia 87, KV Aneesh 38; Samit Dravid 4-36). PoM: Luvnith Sisodia
PoS: Luvnith Sisodia.