HUBBALLI: Mysuru Warriors, led by veteran Amit Verma (59, 46b, 7x4, 2x6), opened its KPL campaign with a fine seven-wicket win over Ballari Tuskers at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium here on Monday.
Chasing 146, it was the 91-run second wicket partnership off 66 balls between Verma and Raju Bhatkal (48, 38b, 4x4, 2x6), that helped seal the deal with seven balls left.
Both Verma, dropped on nine off medium-pacer T. Pradeep, and Bhatkal ensured that Mysuru was always well ahead of the asking rate (7.26). Left-arm spinner Abrar Kazi did get both of them out, but by then the foundation was too solid for subsequent batsmen to mess up.
Earlier, after being put in to bat, Ballari’s mainstays were the two left-handers Rohan Kadam (59, 43b, 6x4, 3x6) and Devdutt Paddikkal (60, 42b, 7x4, 3x6) who stitched together 92 runs from just 60 balls.
While the former scored his runs predominantly on the off-side, the latter, fresh after the India under-19 tour of Sri Lanka, showed his all-round prowess. But, little did they expect their efforts to be shaded.
When Kadam fell — bowled by Suchith — Ballari, at 117 for two in the 15th over, was in a position of strength but it was not long before the wheels came off.
Vyshak Vijaykumar, who had bowled his first two overs for 12 runs, and then preserved for the death, came back to bowl the 18th and 20th overs and didn’t disappoint. Only eight runs were scored off those overs and Vyshak also bagged four wickets. It was a blow from which Ballari never recovered.
The scores:
Ballari Tuskers 145 for eight in 20 overs (Rohan Kadam 59, Devdutt Padikkal 60, Vyshak Vijay Kumar four for 20, J. Suchith two for 20) lost to Mysuru Warriors 147 for three in 18.5 overs (Raju Bhatkal 48, Amit Verma 59, Abrar Kazi two for 20). Man-of-the-match: Amit Verma.