Lions clinch thriller

Bengaluru: Shivamogga Lions pulled off a thrilling three-wicket win over defending champions Gulbarga Mystics in the KSCA Maharaja Trophy T20 tournament at the M Chinnaswamy stadium here on Thursday.Chasing Mystics’ total of 175/6, the Lions overhauled the target with a ball to spare after their lower order rose to the occasion. Asked to bat, Mystics were dealt a double blow with LR Chethan (3) and Sourabh Muttur (7) back in the dugout by the fifth over. With the team at 24/2, Aadarsha Prajwal (43) and R Smaran (40) pulled Mystics out of the woods. Kranthi Kumar bagged 3 for 17.Lions crumbled to 39/5 by the fifth over with pacers Vyshak Vijaykumar (2/25) and Abhilash Shetty (2/45) doing the damage. But skipper Shreyas Gopal (52; 37; 4x4; 2x6) rebuilt their innings before S Shivaraj (27 n.o) and HS Sharath (31n.o) figured in an unbroken 39-run stand for the eighth wicket. The duo milked 17 runs off Abhilash in the penultimate over to bring the equation down to run a ball before Sharath sealed the win with a six.Tigers triumphIn the second match of the day, Hubli Tigers registered a 63-run win over Mangaluru Dragons. Propelled by half-centuries by Mohammed Taha (52), KL Shrijith (52) and skipper Manish Pandey (69 n.o), Tigers posted 215/5. Their spinners, led by Nathan D'Mello (3/23) and Pravin Dubey (2/13) restricted Dragons to 152/8.Brief scores: Gulbarga Mystics: 175/6 in 20 overs (Aadarsh Prajwal 43, R Smaran 40; Kranthi Kumar 3-17) lost to Shivamogga Lions: 179/7 in 19.5 overs (Shreyas Gopal 52, Abhinav Manohar 28, S Shivaraj 27, n.o, HS Sharath 31 n.o; Abhilash Shetty 2-45, Vyshak Vijaykumar 2-25).Hubli Tigers: 215/5 in 20 overs (Mohammed Taha 52, KL Shrijith 52, Manish Pandey 69 n.o) bt Mangaluru Dragons: 152/8 in 20 overs (Sharath BR 38; KV Siddharth 47 n.o; Nathan D'Mello 3-23, Pravin Dubey 2-13).