Karnataka defend 3 runs in last ball to regain T20 title

Surat, December 1 

Skipper Manish Pandey led from the front with a sublime half-century before the bowlers produced a team effort to help Karnataka defend their title, beating Tamil Nadu by one run in a thrilling final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. 

Sent in to bat, Karnataka made 180/5, riding on skipper Manish Pandey’s 45-ball 60 and useful contributions from Rohan Kadam (35), Devdutt Padikkal (32) and KL Rahul (22). Karun Nair also made a fine 8-ball 17 to help his side’s cause. 

Karnataka bowlers dished out a fine last over to restrict Tamil Nadu to 179/6. All-rounder Vijay Shankar top-scored with 44 off 27 balls while Baba Aparajith made 40 off 25 balls. The duo shared 71 runs for the fifth wicket to give Tamil Nadu a glimmer of hope. After Aparajith’s dismissal, Shankar and Ravichandran Ashwin (16*) kept Tamil Nadu in the hunt but they fell short of chasing down the target in the end.

Thriller

Needing 13 runs from the last over, Ashwin struck two consecutive boundaries off Krishnappa Gowtham to reduce the margin but Shankar’s run-out two balls later cost Tamil Nadu dearly. Needing three off the last ball, Murugan Ashwin could only manage one as Karnataka captured the title for the second consecutive time. Tamil Nadu leg-spinner Murugan Ashwin (2/33) and offie Ravichandran Ashwin (2/34) scalped two wickets apiece. — PTI

Brief Scores: Karnataka: 180/5 20 overs (M Pandey 60*, R Kadam 35; R Ashwin 2/34); Tamil Nadu: 179/6 in 20 overs (V Shankar 44, B Aparajith 40; R More 2/32)