Praveen Dubey's 64* off 32 seals Bengaluru Blasters' last-ball win over Hubli Tigers
Synopsis
Bengaluru Blasters were four down and gasping at 59/4 before Praveen Dubey walked in and hit six sixes in an unbeaten 64 off 32 balls to steal a last-ball win from Hubli Tigers. The victory — the Blasters' seventh in eight games — seals top spot in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 playoffs.
Key Takeaways
Praveen Dubey scored an unbeaten 64 off 32 balls , hitting six sixes , to seal a last-ball win for Bengaluru Blasters .
The Blasters chased down 197 in 20 overs , winning by three wickets despite slipping to 59/4 early.
Captain Shubhang Hegde contributed 41 off 30 with the bat and 2/24 with the ball.
Shivkumar Rakshith's unbeaten 50 off 28 and a 70-run stand with Abhinav Manohar powered Hubli Tigers to 196/6 .
Bengaluru Blasters lead the table with 14 points from 8 matches ; Hubli Tigers sit bottom with 6 points .
The Blasters have confirmed top spot in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 playoffs.
Praveen Dubey smashed an unbeaten 64 off 32 balls to steer Bengaluru Blasters to a dramatic three-wicket victory over Hubli Tigers off the final delivery in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament at Hubballi on Friday, 4 July. Chasing a stiff 197, the Blasters survived an early scare to clinch their seventh win of the season and lock in the top spot heading into the playoffs.
Blasters' Rocky Chase Turns Dramatic
The chase began disastrously for Bengaluru Blasters, who slumped to 59/4 with two balls of the powerplay still remaining. Shikhar Shetty and Vaibhav Sharma were the chief architects of the early damage, putting the target firmly out of reach at that point.
Captain Shubhang Hegde (41 off 30) and Wahid Faizan Khan (25 off 18) combined for a crucial 39-run partnership to steady the innings and keep the Blasters in the hunt. But it was Dubey who turned the match on its head, launching three fours and six sixes in a ferocious cameo that brought the equation down to the wire before sealing victory off the last ball.
Tigers' Middle-Order Rescue Act
Hubli Tigers posted 196/6 in their 20 overs, recovering from a precarious 82/5 in the 12th over. A pivotal 70-run partnership between Abhinav Manohar (35 off 18) and Shivkumar Rakshith (50 not out off 28) hauled the Tigers to a competitive total. Manvanth Kumar chipped in with a brisk unbeaten 28 off 11 balls to add crucial runs in the closing overs.
The Tigers had earlier shown promise at the top through Kruthik Krishna (34 off 22) and Aneeshwar Gautam (31 off 18), but the middle-order collapse threatened to derail their innings before the late recovery. Notably, Shubhang Hegde stood out with the ball as well, finishing with figures of 2/24 for the Blasters.
Standings and Playoff Picture
The result further consolidates Bengaluru Blasters' dominance in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, taking them to 14 points from eight matches — a commanding lead at the summit. Hubli Tigers, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just six points from their eight outings, their playoff hopes now all but extinguished.
This was the Blasters' seventh victory of the campaign, underlining their consistency across the group stage. With the playoffs confirmed, attention will now shift to which opponents they face in the knockout rounds.
Brief Scores
Hubli Tigers 196/6 in 20 overs (Shivkumar Rakshith 50*, Kruthik Krishna 34, Abhinav Manohar 35; Shubhang Hegde 2/24) lost to Bengaluru Blasters 197/7 in 20 overs (Praveen Dubey 64*, Shubhang Hegde 41; Shikhar Shetty 3/19, Vaibhav Sharma 2/56) by three wickets.
Point of View
Yet they did. That speaks to a middle-order that can absorb pressure and then detonate, which is exactly the profile that wins knockout cricket. The Tigers, by contrast, exposed a recurring vulnerability: a middle-order collapse that required two batters to rescue them, and a bowling attack that could not defend 196 on the last ball. If that fragility persists into the playoffs, it would already be academic — they are out of the running.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 match between Bengaluru Blasters and Hubli Tigers on 4 July?
Bengaluru Blasters won by three wickets off the last ball of the match at Hubballi on 4 July. Praveen Dubey's unbeaten 64 off 32 balls was the decisive knock in their successful chase of 197.
What did Praveen Dubey score in the match?
Praveen Dubey scored an unbeaten 64 off 32 balls, striking three fours and six sixes. His innings came when the Blasters were in trouble at 59/4 and single-handedly turned the match in their favour.
How did Hubli Tigers set their total of 196/6?
Hubli Tigers recovered from 82/5 in the 12th over through a 70-run partnership between Shivkumar Rakshith (50 not out off 28) and Abhinav Manohar (35 off 18). Manvanth Kumar's unbeaten 28 off 11 balls added crucial runs in the final overs.
Where do Bengaluru Blasters stand in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 table?
Bengaluru Blasters lead the table with 14 points from eight matches after their seventh win of the season. The result confirms their top-spot finish heading into the playoffs.
What is the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20?
The Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 is a domestic T20 cricket tournament organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), featuring franchise-based teams from across Karnataka. It serves as one of the premier state-level T20 competitions in India.
