Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Shivamogga Yodhas rise to 2nd with 7-wicket win
Synopsis
Shivamogga Yodhas were staring at early trouble at 40/3 before Aneesh KV and Smaran R produced an unbeaten 125-run stand off just 75 balls to chase down 163 with more than 10 balls to spare — a partnership that not only sealed a seven-wicket win but lifted the Yodhas to second on the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 table.
Key Takeaways
Shivamogga Yodhas defeated Coastal Kings Mangaluru by 7 wickets in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 on 3 July in Hubballi .
Aneesh KV ( 76 not out ) and Smaran R ( 53 not out ) shared an unbeaten 125-run partnership off 75 balls to rescue the chase from 40/3 .
Coastal Kings Mangaluru were restricted to 162/7 , with Shreesha Achar , Abhilash Shetty , and Dhanush Gowda each taking 2/33 .
Nikin Jose top-scored for Coastal Kings with 51 off 41 balls.
The win moves Shivamogga Yodhas to second place on the points table; Coastal Kings Mangaluru slip to third .
Shivamogga Yodhas climbed to second place on the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 points table on 3 July after a dominant seven-wicket victory over Coastal Kings Mangaluru in Hubballi, powered by an unbeaten 125-run partnership between Aneesh KV and Smaran R. The result pushed Coastal Kings down to third spot.
Key Developments
Chasing 163, Shivamogga found themselves wobbling at 40/3 at the end of the Power-play after Vasuki Koushik removed orange-cap holder Luvnith Sisodia for just 5 off 3 balls, and Nischith Pai followed up by dismissing Tushar Singh (7 off 9) and Naveen MG (20 off 20). The innings was on a knife-edge before the match-defining stand changed everything.
The Match-Winning Partnership
Aneesh KV and Smaran R combined for an unbeaten 125 runs off just 75 balls to wrest control of the chase. Aneesh led the counterattack with a fluent half-century off 31 deliveries, finishing on 76 not out laced with eight fours and two sixes. By the 15th over, Shivamogga were comfortably placed at 127/3, with Aneesh hammering three consecutive boundaries in the 16th. Smaran sealed the contest in style, launching Nischith over mid-wicket for a six to complete his own 32-ball half-century — studded with six fours and two sixes — as Shivamogga reached 165/3 in 18.2 overs.
Coastal Kings Innings
Coastal Kings Mangaluru made a steady start through Aadharsh (24 off 17) and Nikin Jose (51 off 41), who shared a 35-run opening stand from 31 deliveries. However, the innings unravelled in clusters. Dhanush Gowda turned the tide with a superb sixth over, removing Aadharsh and Karun Nair (0 off 2) in three deliveries. Shreesha Achar compounded the damage in the eighth over by dismissing Siddharth Akhil (5 off 10) and Shreyas Gopal (0 off 1).
Jose anchored the middle overs, adding a 43-run stand with Suraj Ahuja (39 off 19), before Yashovardhan Parantap removed him in the 14th over at 103/5. CA Karthik remained unbeaten on 36 off 20 — smashing two fours and three sixes — to lift the total to a competitive 162/7 in 20 overs. Shreesha Achar, Abhilash Shetty, and Dhanush Gowda each returned figures of 2/33 for the Yodhas.
Brief Scores
Coastal Kings Mangaluru: 162/7 in 20 overs (Nikin Jose 51, Suraj Ahuja 39, CA Karthik 36 not out; Shreesha Achar 2/33, Abhilash Shetty 2/33, Dhanush Gowda 2/33) lost to Shivamogga Yodhas: 165/3 in 18.2 overs (Aneesh KV 76 not out, Smaran R 53 not out; Nischith Pai 2/35) by 7 wickets.
With this result, Shivamogga Yodhas consolidate their position in the top half of the table and will look to build further momentum in the matches ahead.
Point of View
Yet won with more than 10 balls to spare. Coastal Kings' inability to take wickets in the death overs, despite three bowlers sharing the new ball effectively, points to a middle-over bowling gap that opponents will target. For the Yodhas, the bigger concern may be their top-order fragility; if Aneesh and Smaran misfire on the same night, the lower order has not yet been tested. The table shift is meaningful, but the real test of both sides will come when they face the tournament's top-ranked team.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 match between Shivamogga Yodhas and Coastal Kings Mangaluru?
Shivamogga Yodhas won the match by 7 wickets on 3 July in Hubballi, chasing down 163 in 18.2 overs to reach 165/3. The win moved them to second on the points table.
Who were the star performers for Shivamogga Yodhas?
Aneesh KV (76 not out) and Smaran R (53 not out) were the standout performers, sharing an unbeaten 125-run partnership off 75 balls after Shivamogga slipped to 40/3. With the ball, Shreesha Achar, Abhilash Shetty, and Dhanush Gowda each took 2/33.
What total did Coastal Kings Mangaluru post?
Coastal Kings Mangaluru posted 162/7 in 20 overs. Nikin Jose top-scored with 51 off 41 balls, while CA Karthik contributed an unbeaten 36 off 20 to give the innings a late boost.
How does this result affect the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 points table?
Shivamogga Yodhas climbed to second place on the points table following this victory, while Coastal Kings Mangaluru dropped to third.
What was the state of the Shivamogga Yodhas chase before the partnership?
Shivamogga Yodhas were in early trouble at 40/3 at the end of the Power-play, having lost Luvnith Sisodia, Tushar Singh, and Naveen MG cheaply. The unbeaten stand between Aneesh KV and Smaran R then turned the match decisively in their favour.
