KPL 2015, Match 17: Belagavi Panthers take on Namma Shivamogga

Newcomers Shivamogga warming up

Mysuru, September 11: Table toppers Belagavi Panthers take on third placed Namma Shivamogga in a crucial tie in the opening match of the Mysuru leg of the Karbonn Smart KPL 2015 here at the SDNR Wadiyar cricket ground on Saturday.

The Panthers are one of the two teams that haven’t lost the match, the other being Bijapur Bulls. However, both teams were involved in a washed out contest each and had to split points.

Shivamogga had a dream run as the new entrants posted a hat-trick of victories before losing to Bijapur Bulls of the last ball of the contest.

For the Panthers, the batting and bowling has come good with their mainstay Mayank Agarwal and skipper Vinay Kumar being in rousing form with the bat.

The two have propped up the team total with some imaginative batting and have raised the bar for the other batsmen in the tournament with some match-winning knocks.

Namma Shivamogga is a team that depends on their batting and as skipper Stuart Binny reiterated, they believe they can chase a big target.

Sadiq Kirmani at the top of the order has been in fine form with the bat and has been quite consistent. Samarth Ooty, however, needs a big knock and skipper Stuart Binny is due for a big innings as well.

All-rounder Shreyas Gopal was in his elements in his debut match in the KPL hammering an unbeaten 49 to take his team to victory. He has not had that opportunity again as the top order has managed to put up defendable totals.

Shreyas has however not been himself with the ball and it will be quite imperative for him to hit the line and length that troubles batsmen on Saturday.