KPL 2015: Sadiq Kirmani keeps Namma Shivamogga unbeaten

Hubballi, Sep 8: The best opening-wicket partnership from Sadiq Kirmani (87 not out) and Samarth Ooty (51) saw Namma Shivamogga post their 3rd consecutive victory in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) 2015. The newcomers to the League pulled full points defeating the Rockstars here in the 1st game on Tuesday.

Tournament schedule

Chasing 147 for victory Shivamogga were on song with Sadiq and Samarth getting into their groove quickly. The way the pair went on forced Rockstars skipper Sudeep to use as many as eight bowlers including himself. Sadiq and Samarth were a treat for the crowd slamming the rival attack at will.

While Sadiq hammered 5 fours and an equal number of sixes while Samarth hit 3 fours and 2 sixes. The right-handed Sadiq was adjudged Man-of-the-match.

Sadiq, son of legendary wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani, said, "We need to continue our winning streak. With three wins, we will need one more to be assured of a berth in the semis. We are happy with our batting but feel that we need to strengthen our bowling and fielding a bit. On a personal note, I am happy with my performance, especially with this knock."

Cruising along, Samarth fell in going for one too many shots with victory well in sight and departed giving the Rockstars something to cheer.

If that was not enough Kaunain Abbas became Suddep's first victim. The skipper shrugged off his gloves and pads to roll his arm over and claimed Kaunain's wicket to the glee of his team and fans in the stand.

Put into bat, a second-wicket partnership worth 70 runs between opening batsman Rajeev (52) and No. 3 Madan Mohan (31) enabled the Rockstars post a challenging total.

In a display which showed the Rockstars are improving with every game, Charan Teja hammered a 26-ball 41 to prop up the Rockstars total that included 3 sixes and 1 four.

Shivamogga are perched at the top of the table with 6 points to their name.

FULL SCORECARD

Rockstars

Rajeev H C Gulecha b Daivik 53 (37b, 8x4, 1x6); Sachin Joshi b A Sagar 2; Madan Mohan c J Abbas b Daivik 31 (39b, 1x4, 1x6), Charan Teja c K Abbas b B Gulecha 41 (26b, 1x4, 3x6) Rajkumar (not out) 9; C Raghu (not out) 2

Extras: (w-5, lb-3, nb-1) 9

Total: (For eight wickets, 20 overs) 146

Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Joshi); 2-83 (Rajev); 3-97 (15.4); 4-142 (Mohan)

Bowling: Aditya B Sagar 4-0-36-1; Bhavesh Gulecha 4-0-31-0; Shreyas Gopal 4-0-17-0; Davik Viswanath 4-0-25-2; Sinan Abdul Khader 4-0-34-0

Namma Shivamogga

Sadiq Kirmani (Not Out) 87 (53b, 5x4, 5x6); Samarth Ooty 51 (40b, 3x4, 2x6); Kaunain Abbas c Sunil Joshi b Sudeep 1; Dinesh Bowrankar (Not Out) 5

Extras: (w-2, lb-2) 4

Total: (For two wickets, 16.3 overs) 148

Fall of wickets: 1-129 (Ooty); 2-137 (Abbas)

Bowling: S Joshi 2-0-20-0; D Johnson 4-0-17-0; C Raghu 2-0-13-0; C Teja 2-0-16-0; Sachin Joshi 3-0-40-0; A Balakrishna 1-0-11-0; R Gowda 1.3-0-15-1; Sudeep 1-0-4-1

Toss: Won by Namma Shivamogga; opted to field

Result: Namma Shivamogga won by 8 wickets

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