KPL 2018, Bijapur Bulls vs Ballari Tuskers: Live Score, Commentary, and Updates

It has been an awesome day as far as the KPL was concerned. Two tight contests, and are they not what everyone wants - some fierce competition.

We had a good time bringing you the updates from both games, but it will take its toll on us as well. Thankfully, tomorrow is an off-day at the KPL circuits, and we will be back with fresh action on Tuesday, when we will have the 13th game - Mysuru Warriors vs Shivamogga Lions.

So do not forget to join us back on Tuesday and until then, Goodbye and Goodnight!

The Bijapur Bulls climb to third spot with their first win from three games. The other two were no-result games.

Bad luck continues to thrive among the Ballari Tuskers, as they lie at the bottom of the table, having not won a single game so far. They are also officially knocked out from any further progress in the KPL 2018.

Bharath Chipli, the Bijapur Bulls' captain:
"KN Bharath was truly amazing today. The match came so close because we didn't get any partnership after the first six. We didn't play our previous two games (because of rain) and wanted this win badly."

KM Gautam, the Ballari Tuskers' captain:
"I have no answer for this. Bharath batted beautifully and took the game away from us. We have been repeating the mistakes again and again. Rather than other team winning, we are losing the games."

KN Bharath, Bijapur Bulls (Man of the Match):
"Of course. It is the dream of any batsman to score a last ball six. Just stay calm and to send the ball out of the park. It was very crucial for us and everyone believed we will win the match. My teammates also trusted me that I could pull it off."

Brief Scores:

Ballari Tuskers 152/9 in 20 overs (Rohan 52, Karthik 45, Cariappa 3/11) lost to Bijapur Bulls 154/8 in 19.5 overs (Bharath 72*, Bhavane 31, Akshay 3/30) by 2 wickets.

Ammmmazzzzing game. Sometimes we had Bijapur on top, other times it was Ballari. Just imagine - had Karthik bowled a proper delivery in that last ball, the result would have been different.

The whole Bijapur team is out there and they swarm around Bharath. What a win.

Skipper Chipli got his team off to a quick start, but losing wickets at regular intervals did not help their chase. However, Bharath with a calm head on his shoulders recorded his best KPL score to see the Bulls home. The maturity and calmness he showed during the final part of the chase were simply top class.

AND IT IS BHARATH FOR THE BIJAPUR BULLS! OH MY WORD. I AM JUMPING AROUND, THE SPECTATORS ARE JUMPING AROUND TOO, AND THE BULLS - OH THEY ARE BEYOND THEMSELVES WITH DELIGHT.

Karthik could have bowled anything - literally anything except a no ball - and an above-waist no ball is what he hurls. Bharath did not need to hesitate, as he swivels around, and swipes. The ball goes flying, and flying, deep into the clouds. The hugest six of the KPL so far - 89 metres, as the Bulls literally snatch the win, with two wickets to spare.

Bulls 154/8 after 19.5 overs.

Dot ball! Six needed in 1 now. Bharath is on PRESSURE!

WICKET! Run-out there. In an effort to give Bharath the strike, Appanna runs himself out. But more importantly, he succeeds in his mission.

Appanna run out (Gautam/Karthik CA) 0(1), fall of wicket 147/8 in 19.4 overs.

KC Cariappa, in for the last two balls, but he won't be batting.

Elaborate field changes going on. 6 needed in 3.

A dot, and a double. 7 needed in 4 now.

9 needed in 6. Can the Bulls do it? Or will they choke to the Tuskers?

Karthik will bowl that last over. It will be his 4th over as well.

Wicket of Ronit taken, but Bharath is there to stay, and he shows what he can do. A couple of boundaries and the match is suddenly in the Bulls' favour.
12 off the over in total.

SL Akshay ends his day thus, at 4 - 0 - 30 - 3.

Bulls 144/7 after 19 overs.

SL Akshay, into his fourth over. The penultimate over of The Bulls' innings.

AND WICKET! Ronit More is out. Pitched short by Akshay, and Ronit tries to strike it over long-on, but it won't happen. There is a fielder in the deep.

R More c Chiranjeevi b SL Akshay 3(7), fall of wicket 135/7 in 18.3 overs.

KP Appanna will give Bharath some company now.

Four runs off the over. That was Pradeep's fourth, and he ends well for the Tuskers.
Look at his figures: 4 - 0 - 31 - 1.

21 required in 12 for the Bulls.

Bulls 132/6 after 18 overs.

FIFTY for Naga Bharath. Well composed. 50 not out of 35, 4 fours and a six.

The whole of the Bulls are now resting on his shoulders. His job is not over yet.

Pradeep is back to bowl now.

Four runs from it, and a wicket too. The Tuskers are closing down.
25 needed in 18 for the Bulls.

Bulls 128/5 after 17 overs.

SL Akshay is back with the ball.

WICKET! Naveen tries the uppercut, but it will rest in short third man's hands.

Naveen MG c Manjesh Reddy b SL Akshay 1(3), fall of wicket 127/6 in 16.4 overs.

Ronit More comes to the crease.

A six and a four by Bharath. Thirteen runs scored in total. A good over for the Bulls.
29 needed in 24 now.

Bulls 124/5 after 16 overs.

Death overs begin now, and it is do-or-die for either side. 42 runs needed for the Bulls, in 30 balls.

Karthik will bowl this over.

Another eight added to the score, but at the cost of a wicket for Bijapur.

Bulls 111/5 after 15 overs.

Pradeep is back to bowl the next over.

WICKET! Good shot, but finds the fielder at mid-wicket. Great catch - again by Devdutt Padakkal. Suneel departs.

Suneel c Devdutt Padikkal b Pradeep T 2(6), fall of wicket 104/5 in 14.2 overs.

Naveen MG comes to the crease.

KN Bharath finally finds a boundary after a long time. Three runs added in addition as the Bulls bring up their hundred.

Bulls 103/4 after 14 overs.

Karthik is back to bowl.

Eight runs off the over, and a wicket as well. Bhatkal finishes on a high for Tuskers.

4 - 0 - 20 - 2. So economical and successful at the same time.

Bulls 97/4 after 13 overs.

Ritesh Bhatkal will bowl his last over now.

WICKET! Shrijith tries a swipe, misses and ball uproots the leg stump. Bhatkal is delirious.

KL Shrijith b Ritesh Bhatkal 6(7), fall of wicket 96/4 in 12.5 overs.

Suneel Raju is the new batsman in.

Six runs from the over. This is going good for the Tuskers at the moment.

Kazi ends his bowling. His figures read 4 - 0 - 32 - 1.

Bulls 89/3 after 12 overs.

Kazi is in for his final over now.

Six runs off it.

Bulls 83/3 after 11 overs.

Rithesh Bhatkal will bowl his third over now.

We are done with one half of the innings, and the Bulls are exactly halfway with the score as well. 77 taken 10 overs. 76 needed in 10 overs.
Can they do it? Or will the Tuskers overcome them? Stay on to know.

Six runs off the over, and a wicket.

Bulls 77/3 after 10 overs.

Abrar Kazi will bowl his third over now.

WICKET! Brilliant catch. Shishir Bhavane departs after a considerable stint. It was all set to go for a four, but Devdutt Padikkal who ran in to complete the catch inchess off the ground, had other ideas.

Shishir Bhavane c Devdutt Padikkal b Kazi 31(31) [4s-5], fall of wicket 77/3 in 10 overs.

KL Shrijith comes to the crease next.

Six runs from the over.

Bulls 71/2 after 9 overs.

Ritesh Bhatkal is back for the Tuskers.

Seven runs off the over.

Bulls 65/2 after 8 overs.

Another delay now. CM Gautham felt something near the footing area where he stands as keeper, and the umpire gestures to the groundsmen to bring in something to pound the area.

Solved, and we're back again.

Abrar Kazi will bowl the next over.

Just three runs and a wicket. Finally a good over for the Tuskers.

Bulls 58/2 after 7 overs.

All has been settled, and we are back now, from we left off.

The sprinklers have been turned on, and water is being sprayed out in the outfield.

A small delay will occur now, as a super sopper is also being brought out to suck up the water from the outfield.

Ritesh Bhatkal comes into the attack.

WICKET! Abbas finds himself in the wicketkeeper's gloves after he attempts a cheeky poke, instead edges it in.

Kaunain Abbas c Gautam b Ritesh Bhatkal 6(5) [4s-1], fall of wicket 57/2 in 6.3 overs.

KN Bharath comes to the crease.

Good batting powerplay from the Bulls. Carrying forward in the same manner will definitely grant the Bulls a win.

Meanwhile the Tuskers need to work even harder now.

Chipli's wicket will be a relief for Tuskers, as Abbas starts of well with a four, attempting to regain the lost momentum for the Bulls.
6 runs off it in total.

Bulls 55/1 after 6 overs.

SL Akshay will return at the other end.

WICKET! Chipli is out, attempting a heave the ball, and it goes straight to the fielder at midwicket.

Chipli c Karthik CA b SL Akshay 27(14) [4s-4 6s-1], fall of wicket 49/1 in 5.2 overs.

Mir Kaunain Abbas is the new batsman.

13 runs from the over - a couple of fours from Chipli and one from Bhavane as well.

Bulls 49/0 after 5 overs.

Abrar Kazi in for Pradeep.