Vinay Kumar leads Panthers to big win in KPL 2015 opener

Belagavi Panthers skipper R Vinay sets up to hit on the rise during his unbeaten 64 that set up his team's victory

Hubballi, Sept 03: Led by an authoritative unbeaten 64 from skipper R Vinay Kumar and his unfinished 122-run stand for the third wicket with R Jonathan (62 NO), last year’s finalists romped home convincing victory by eight wickets with 12 balls to spare over Mangalore United in the inaugural match of the Karbonn Smart KPL 2015 match here on Thursday.

Chasing Mangalore United’s 141, Belagavi Panthers began on the wrong foot losing both their openers rather cheap both caught at long off playing away from their bodies. From 22 for two in the fourth over, Vinay, who was joined by Jonathan, not only led his team’s recovery but he also ably guided his team to their first win of Season IV.

At no time did the two batsmen look in discomfort, ensuring the run-chase was always on by maintaining a healthy run-rate.

The pair added put on their match winning partnership off just 81 balls with Jonathan hammering the four sixes and three fours while Vinay had six fours in his knock.

Put into bat, Mangalore United were struck a double blow when medium pacer Stalin Hoover struck to remove captain and opening batsman Rohit Sabharwal (0) and Sishir Bhavane (3).

Karun Nair (38, 27b, 5 x 4, 1 x 6), who opened the innings, took it upon himself to score his team and along with KC Avinash seemed to be leading the team towards a healthy total when veteran and the oldest player of the tournament, Nitin Mulkhi struck to have him leg before.

Rohan Kadam was run out a little while later and Mangalore United were clearly struggling.

However, KC Avinash farmed the bowling well. Slowly and steadily he inched his way before being influenced by Arsdeep Singh Brar’s leaves, two of which ended as boundaries and two went the distance.

The pair managed to take the team to 141 with a 76-run partnership off 48 balls before Arsdeep was out off the last ball of the innings.

Vinay was adjudged the man of the match for his unbeaten 64.

SCOREBOARD

Mangalore United:

Rohit Sabharwal C & B Stalin Hoover 0; Karun Nair lbw b Nitin Mulki 38 (27b, 5 x 4, 1 x ); Sishir Bhavane c R Jonathan b S Hoover 3; KC Avinash (not out) 50 (53b, 5 x 4); Rohan Kadam (run out) 3; Arsdeep Singh Brar c P Dubey b Vinay 36 (25b, 2 x 4, 2 x 6). Extras: (b-4, w-4, lb-3) 11.

Total: 141 for five wickets, 20 overs.

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Sabharwal); 2-13 (Bhavane); 3-58 (Nair); 4-65 (Kadam); 5-151 (Brar).

Bowling: Stalin Hoover 4-0-20-2; R Vinay Kumar 4-0-33-1; HS Sharath 4-0-25-0; Praveen Dubey 3-0-25-0; Nitin Mulki 4-0-24-1; Zeeshan Ali 1-0-7-0.

Belagavi Panthers:

Abhishek Reddy c K Nair b Ronit More 4; Mayank Agarwal c K Nair b Mithrakanth Yadav 12 (12b, 2 x 4); R Vinay Kumar (not out) 64 (50b, 6 x 4); R. Jonathan (not out) 62 (43b, 3 x 4, 4 x 6). Extras: (w-2) 2.

Total: 144 for two in 18 overs.

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Reddy); 2-22 (Agarwal).

Bowling: Ronit More 3-0-29-1; Abhishek Bhat 4-0-39-0; Mithrakanth Yadav 4-0-22-1; B N Bharath 3-0-22-0; Udit Patel 2-0-19-0; Arsdeep Brar 1-0-5-0; Karun Nair 1-0-8-0.

Toss: Won by Belagavi Panthers; opted to field

Belagavi Panthers won by eight wickets and 12 balls to spare.