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In Match 10 of the Maharaja Trophy T20 2024, Mysore Warriors‘ captain Karun Nair delivered a scintillating performance, smashing a century against Mangalore Dragons at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Monday (August 19). Nair’s explosive innings was the highlight of the match, propelling his team to an imposing total and securing a comprehensive victory.
Karun Nair’s milestone six brings up a majestic hundred
The standout moment of the match came on the last ball of the 19th over when Nair reached his hundred in grand fashion. Facing the Dragons’ pacer Nischith N Rao, Nair was on 94 and needed just one big hit to bring up his century. Rao delivered a full ball wide outside the off-stump, which Nair attempted to slog over mid-on. Despite not making clean contact, the thick edge was enough to send the ball sailing over the third-man boundary for a six. This shot not only brought up his century but also showcased Nair’s ability to find the boundary under pressure. He reached his hundred off just 43 balls, highlighting the pace and power of his innings.
Here’s the video:
ಅದ್ಭುತ, ಅಮೋಘ, ಆಕರ್ಷಕ ಶತಕದ ಸಂಭ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಕರುಣ್ ನಾಯರ್! 🏏⚡💪🏻
ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು 🥳🥳
📺 ನೋಡಿರಿ Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 | ಮೈಸೂರು vs ಮಂಗಳೂರು | LIVE NOW #StarSportsKannada ದಲ್ಲಿ#MaharajaTrophyOnStar@maharaja_t20 @karun126 pic.twitter.com/RpmvXiJ513
— Star Sports Kannada (@StarSportsKan) August 19, 2024
Mysore Warriors’ innings: A captain’s knock leads the way
After being put in to bat, the Warriors faced early setbacks, losing both openers, Karthik CA (11) and SU Karthik (23), cheaply. Nair walked in at No. 3 with the responsibility of stabilizing the innings. Despite the early blows, Nair showed no signs of caution, immediately taking the attack to the Mangalore Dragons bowlers. His half-century came off just 27 balls, a prelude to the carnage that was to follow.
Nair’s aggressive intent didn’t waver as he accelerated further, reaching his next fifty runs in just 16 more deliveries. His innings was a masterclass in T20 batting, combining elegant strokeplay with brute power. Nair remained unbeaten on 124 off 48 balls, an innings laced with 13 boundaries and nine towering sixes. He found an able partner in Manoj Bhandage, who contributed a quickfire 31* off 14 balls. Together, they forged an unbeaten 85-run partnership for the fifth wicket, propelling the Warriors to a daunting total of 226/4 in their allotted 20 overs.
Also WATCH: Manish Pandey shows an unbelievable fielding effort in the Maharaja Trophy T20 2024
Mangalore Dragons’ chase: A stuttering start and rain interruption
Chasing a steep target of 227, the Dragons got off to a shaky start. Opener Macneil Hadley Noronha was dismissed for a mere five runs off seven balls in the second over, setting the tone for a challenging chase. Rohan Patil, his opening partner, managed to score 12 runs before falling to Jagadeesha Suchith in the fourth over, leaving the Dragons reeling at 22/2.
Nikin Jose (28* off 18 balls) and Krishnamurthy Siddharth (22* off 15 balls) tried to revive the innings, adding 46 runs off 28 balls for the third wicket. However, just as they were gaining momentum, rain interrupted play, adding another twist to the contest.
Revised target and final collapse
Following the rain delay, the match was reduced to 14 overs, and the Dragons were set a revised target of 166 runs. Despite the challenging conditions, Jose and Siddharth continued their resistance. Siddharth played a particularly commendable knock, reaching his half-century. Nevertheless, their efforts weren’t enough to keep pace with the required run rate.
After the partnership was broken, the rest of the Dragons’ batting lineup crumbled under pressure. They eventually managed only 138/7 in their 14 overs, falling short by 27 runs. Codanda Ajit Karthik and Jagadeesha Suchith were the pick of the bowlers for Mysore Warriors, each claiming two crucial wickets and stifling the Dragons’ chase.
