Siddharth Akhil's unbeaten 104 steers Coastal Kings past Hubli Tigers in Maharaja Trophy T20
Synopsis
Staring down a chase of 214 at 82 for 5, Siddharth Akhil — a 21-year-old batting at No. 4 — hit 104 off 51 balls with 10 sixes to drag Coastal Kings Mangaluru to a four-wicket win over Hubli Tigers at Chinnaswamy. The knock ended Hubli's campaign and kept Coastal Kings' knockout hopes alive. One of the most dramatic finishes in this Maharaja Trophy season.
Key Takeaways
Siddharth Akhil scored an unbeaten 104 off 51 balls (4 fours, 10 sixes) — his maiden Maharaja Trophy century.
Coastal Kings Mangaluru chased down 214 to win by four wickets in 19.2 overs at Chinnaswamy Stadium on 6 July .
Coastal Kings were in deep trouble at 82 for 5 in 8.4 overs before Akhil's counter-attack.
Mohammed Taha scored 114 and Hardik Raj retired on 66 for the Tigers, who posted 213 for 6 .
Coastal Kings move to third on the table with 9 points ; Hubli Tigers are eliminated at the bottom with 6 points .
Siddharth Akhil blazed an unbeaten 104 off 51 balls to power Coastal Kings Mangaluru to a nerve-shredding four-wicket victory over the Hubli Tigers in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Monday, 6 July. Chasing 214, the Coastal Kings were tottering at 82 for 5 in 8.4 overs before Akhil's extraordinary counter-attack turned what looked like a certain defeat into a memorable triumph.
Akhil's Match-Winning Knock
Coming in at No. 4 with his side in deep trouble, Siddharth Akhil — son of former cricketer Balachandra Akhil — played one of the most audacious innings of this season's tournament. His 104-run knock featured 4 fours and 10 sixes and was built on a combination of raw power and shrewd calculation. With 7 runs required off the final over, Akhil sealed the chase with a towering six off the second ball, simultaneously completing his maiden Maharaja Trophy century and clinching victory for his side.
Key Partnerships That Rebuilt the Chase
Akhil did not do it alone. A 58-run stand in 27 balls with Prithviraj Shekhawat (18 off 14 balls, 2 fours) for the seventh wicket steadied the innings and restored momentum. A subsequent 66-run partnership in 32 balls with Dheeraj Gowda (30 off 15 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) then drove the Coastal Kings over the line. Both stands came against a Tigers attack that had looked dominant in the first half of the match.
Hubli Tigers' Strong But Ultimately Insufficient Total
The Tigers had set a formidable target, posting 213 for 6 in 20 overs. Openers Mohammed Taha (114) and Hardik Raj (66 off 39 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes) put on a blistering 162-run stand in 90 balls, adding 69 runs in the powerplay and 114 runs for no loss by the 10th over. Raj retired in the 15th over to allow the middle order to accelerate, but the Tigers managed only 51 runs in the final five overs — a slowdown that ultimately proved costly. Santokh Singh was the pick of the Coastal Kings bowlers, returning figures of 2 for 14.
Points Table Implications
The result carries significant standings consequences for both sides. With their fourth victory in nine matches, the Coastal Kings climbed to third place on 9 points, keeping their knockout qualification hopes firmly alive with a match still to play. For the Hubli Tigers, the defeat is terminal — their sixth loss from 10 matches leaves them stranded at the bottom of the table on 6 points, ending their campaign in this edition of the tournament.
Brief Scores
Hubli Tigers 213/6 in 20 overs (Hardik Raj ret 66, Mohammed Taha 114; Santokh Singh 2-14) lost to Coastal Kings Mangaluru 215/7 in 19.2 overs (Nikin Jose 27, Siddharth Akhil 104 not out, Dheeraj Gowda 30 not out; Shikhar Shetty 3-30, Aditya Goyal 3-41) by four wickets.
Point of View
Not just hitting ability. Notably, Akhil's pedigree (son of Balachandra Akhil) will attract scrutiny, but this knock was earned on merit. The more pointed question for the Hubli Tigers is tactical: retiring Hardik Raj at 66 in the 15th over was meant to unleash the middle order, but yielding only 51 in the last five overs suggests the strategy backfired. Their bowling, which had reduced Coastal Kings to 82 for 5, could not hold the line when it mattered most.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Siddharth Akhil and what did he score in the Maharaja Trophy match?
Siddharth Akhil is a left-handed batter playing for Coastal Kings Mangaluru in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, and son of former cricketer Balachandra Akhil. He scored an unbeaten 104 off 51 balls, including 10 sixes, to guide his side to a four-wicket win over Hubli Tigers on 6 July at Chinnaswamy Stadium.
What was the result of the Coastal Kings vs Hubli Tigers Maharaja Trophy match?
Coastal Kings Mangaluru defeated Hubli Tigers by four wickets, chasing down 214 in 19.2 overs at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on 6 July. Hubli Tigers had posted 213 for 6 in 20 overs.
How does this result affect the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 points table?
Coastal Kings Mangaluru moved to third place on 9 points with one match remaining, keeping their knockout qualification hopes alive. Hubli Tigers, with their sixth defeat in 10 matches, are now eliminated and sit at the bottom of the table on 6 points.
Who were the top performers for Hubli Tigers in the match?
Opener Mohammed Taha scored 114 while Hardik Raj retired on 66 off 39 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes), with the pair putting on a 162-run opening stand in 90 balls. Despite their efforts, the Tigers managed only 51 runs in the final five overs after Raj's retirement.
Which bowlers stood out for each side?
For Coastal Kings, Santokh Singh took 2 for 14 in the first innings. In the chase, Shikhar Shetty (3 for 30) and Aditya Goyal (3 for 41) were the Tigers' most effective bowlers, though they could not prevent Akhil's match-winning knock.
