Disciplined Mangalore defend modest target

A disciplined bowling performance enabled Mangalore United to defend a modest target of 136 by two runs against Malnad Gladiators in Bangalore.

Malnad's chase started on the wrong note, with opener Shashindra perishing for a duck and his partner Ganesh Sathish consuming 32 balls for his 19. Offspinner Udit Patel then got into the act, taking 3 for 22, as Malnad slumped to 74 for 5 in 14 overs. An asking rate of over ten an over proved too much for the remaining batsmen despite some late hitting from Nishanth Hegde and Sanjay Kumar.

Mangalore's middle order had earlier led their recovery after a disastrous start left them at 2 for 2. Medium-pacer Raju Bhatkal took 3 for 21, but Rongsen Jonathan, Azghar Pasha and Vijay Chavan helped their side to 135.

Jayprakash Shetty's unbeaten 76 off 51 balls took Bijapur Bulls to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Mysore Maharaajas in Bangalore.

The target of 165 seemed stiff after Bijapur were reduced to 1 for 2 in the first over of the chase. But Shetty and wicketkeeper Devraj Patil added 116 runs in just 65 deliveries to dash Mysore's hopes. After Patil fell in the 12th over, Stuart Binny supported Shetty as Bijapur won with 15 balls to spare.

Shoaib Manager's 59 off 30 deliveries had earlier taken Mysore to a challenging 164 for 7. Manager hit 5 sixes to help his team recover from 69 for 4 in the 13th over.