Manish Pandey's unbeaten 43 steers Gulbarga Mystics to 3-wicket win
Synopsis
Manish Pandey silenced a five-wicket collapse scare with a nerveless unbeaten 43, rescuing Gulbarga Mystics from 77 for 4 to a three-wicket win over Mysuru Warriors. Ritesh Bhatkal's 4 for 20 nearly rewrote the script — but the veteran had the final word, including a run-out assist off the last ball of the Warriors' innings.
Key Takeaways
Gulbarga Mystics beat Mysuru Warriors by three wickets in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 at Hubbali on 27 June .
Manish Pandey scored an unbeaten 43 off 31 balls at No.
6, guiding the chase after a collapse to 77 for 4 .
Ritesh Bhatkal took 4 for 20 but could not prevent the Mystics from reaching the target of 156 .
B R Sharath top-scored for the Mystics with 49 off 27 balls ; K P Karthikeya made 63 off 43 for the Warriors.
Gulbarga Mystics move to second place with 6 points from 5 matches; Mysuru Warriors remain bottom with 2 points .
Manish Pandey delivered a composed, unbeaten 43 off 31 balls to anchor Gulbarga Mystics to a tense three-wicket victory over Mysuru Warriors in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 Tournament at Hubbali on Saturday, 27 June. Chasing 156, the Mystics survived a dramatic middle-order collapse to seal the chase with seven balls to spare, finishing at 156 for 7 in 18.5 overs.
Pandey Steadies a Sinking Ship
The Mystics looked comfortable at 66 for 1 before Ritesh Bhatkal triggered a stunning collapse, reducing them to 77 for 4 in rapid succession. Pandey, walking in at No. 6, absorbed the pressure and steered the chase with his trademark composure, striking five boundaries without once looking in danger of dismissal. His innings was the defining contribution of the match.
B R Sharath had provided the early momentum with a brisk 49 off 27 balls, laced with four fours and three sixes, before Bhatkal intervened. Vijaykumar Kranthi Kumar chipped in with 21 to support the lower-order effort.
Bhatkal's Inspired Spell Goes Unrewarded
Ritesh Bhatkal produced the standout bowling performance of the match, finishing with figures of 4 for 20. The experienced off-spinner first broke the opening partnership by removing Lochan Gowda (18), then ripped through the middle order, dismissing Prakhar Chaturvedi (4), Macneil Noronha (1), and Thippa Reddy (2) in a devastating burst. Despite his efforts, the Warriors could not hold their advantage. K P Karthikeya also chipped in with 2 for 35 with the ball.
Warriors Fail to Build on Promising Start
Put in to bat, Mysuru Warriors once again squandered a solid platform, finishing on 155 for 7 in 20 overs. Openers LR Chethan (24 off 12 balls, three sixes) and S U Karthik (20) added 36 for the first wicket, but the innings lost shape quickly, with the side reaching only 56 for 2 at the end of the Power-play after Vishal Onat fell cheaply.
K P Karthikeya, arriving at the crease with the score at 50 for 2, rescued the innings with a fighting 63 off 43 balls, including two fours and four sixes. The 20-year-old carried the batting through the middle and lower order but was run out off the final delivery after failing to beat a sharp throw from Pandey in the deep — a fitting full-circle moment in a match the veteran dominated. Ronit More was the pick of the Mystics' bowlers, taking 2 for 31.
Table Standings After Match
The victory, Gulbarga Mystics' third in five matches, lifted them to second place on the points table with six points, leapfrogging Coastal Kings Mangaluru and sitting two points behind leaders Bengaluru Blasters. Mysuru Warriors, meanwhile, slipped to their fourth defeat in five matches and remain anchored at the bottom with just two points.
Brief scores: Mysuru Warriors 155/7 in 20 overs (KP Karthikeya 63, LR Chethan 24, S U Karthik 20; Ronit More 2/31) lost to Gulbarga Mystics 156/7 in 18.5 overs (B R Sharath 49, Manish Pandey 43*, Vijaykumar Kranthi Kumar 21; Ritesh Bhatkal 4/20, K P Karthikeya 2/35) by three wickets.
Point of View
And this innings was a textbook illustration. What this match also exposes is Mysuru Warriors' recurring inability to convert solid starts into competitive totals; three of their four defeats have followed a similar pattern of top-order promise followed by middle-order implosion. Karthikeya's 63 deserved a better team performance around it. Until the Warriors address that structural fragility, the bottom of the table will remain their address.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Gulbarga Mystics vs Mysuru Warriors Maharaja Trophy match on 27 June?
Gulbarga Mystics won by three wickets, chasing down 156 in 18.5 overs at Hubbali on 27 June. Manish Pandey's unbeaten 43 off 31 balls sealed the victory with seven balls to spare.
How did Manish Pandey perform in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 match?
Manish Pandey scored an unbeaten 43 off 31 balls at No. 6, hitting five boundaries. He anchored the chase after Gulbarga Mystics collapsed from 66 for 1 to 77 for 4, steering the side home calmly.
What were Ritesh Bhatkal's bowling figures in this match?
Ritesh Bhatkal took 4 for 20 for Mysuru Warriors, dismissing Lochan Gowda, Prakhar Chaturvedi, Macneil Noronha, and Thippa Reddy. Despite his inspired spell, the Warriors could not defend their total of 155.
Where do Gulbarga Mystics stand on the Maharaja Trophy points table after this win?
Gulbarga Mystics moved to second place with six points from five matches, overtaking Coastal Kings Mangaluru. They trail leaders Bengaluru Blasters by two points.
How did K P Karthikeya perform for Mysuru Warriors?
K P Karthikeya scored 63 off 43 balls, including two fours and four sixes, to rebuild the Warriors' innings after they slipped to 50 for 2. The 20-year-old was run out off the final ball of the innings after a sharp throw from Pandey in the deep.
