Did Mangaluru Dragons Defeat Hubli Tigers in the Maharaja Trophy 2025?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mangaluru Dragons claimed a thrilling 16-run victory over Hubli Tigers.
- Macneil Hadley Noronha and Aneesh K.V. played pivotal roles in scoring.
- Kranthi Kumar delivered an exceptional bowling performance.
- The match showcased the competitiveness of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20.
- Strong batting partnerships were key to the Dragons' success.
Mysore, Aug 16 (NationPress) In an exhilarating match at the Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Stadium, the Mangaluru Dragons triumphed over the Hubli Tigers with a narrow 16-run victory in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20. The Dragons, led by Macneil Hadley Noronha and Aneesh K.V., set a challenging target of 195. The decisive moment came from Kranthi Kumar, who took four wickets to clinch the win.
The contest kicked off with an early wicket as Lochan S. Gowda (5) was run out by Taha in the first over. In the third over, Sharath Belur Ravi fell for just 2 runs, caught by Achar. However, the innings steadied with Macneil Hadley Noronha scoring a vital 56, supported by Aneesh K.V. with 62, forming a solid partnership that amassed 107 runs in only 77 balls.
As the innings progressed, Aneesh was dismissed in the 15th over, followed by Aadarsh Prajwal S. (19) soon after, leaving the Dragons in a precarious situation at 147/5 in the 17th over. Yet, Shivaraj S. (16) and Kranthi Kumar (30) responded brilliantly, scoring 48 runs in just 17 balls, propelling the total to a commanding 195.
In their chase, the Tigers faced an early setback when in-form M.D. Taha (0) was caught out in the first over. Despite Prakhar Chaturvedi providing resistance with 37 runs, the Tigers struggled with their innings, highlighted by Devdutt Paddikal's quick 60 off 30 balls.
When the Tigers needed 41 runs from four overs, Kranthi Kumar turned the game, removing key batsmen including Manvanth (16) and Abhinav Manohar (28) to leave the Tigers stranded at 179/9 after 20 overs.
Kranthi’s exceptional bowling performance secured the Dragons' victory, showcasing a stellar all-round team effort.
Brief scores:
Mangaluru Dragons 195/5 in 20 overs (Aneesh KV 62, Macneil Noronha 56, Kranthi Kumar 30*; Nithin Shanthaveri 2-54, Shreesha Achar 1-17) beat Hubli Tigers 179/9 in 20 overs (Prakhar Chaturvedi 37, Devdutt Padikkal 60, Abhinav Manohar 28; Shreyas Gopal 2-33, Kranthi Kumar 4-28, Shreevathsa Acharya 2-20) by 16 runs.