Coastal Digest lift the MPL Trophy
Mangaluru: The Costal Digest team has lifted the Prestigious Mangalore Premier League Cricket Trophy by a narrow margin victory of 6 wickets against Mastro Titan team. In the final match of the tournament held under follodlight Dr B R Ambedkar Stadium in Panambur, Mangalore on Friday the Mastro Titan won the toss and elected to bat first. In the very first over of the innings, Mukka Express Arif dismissed two promising batsmen Rohan Kadam for 0 and Vishwanathan for 4 runs when the total score was 8 on the board. By considering the Ritesh Bhatkal-led coastal digest clinched the Mangalore Premier League-2016 title after humbling Maestro Titans in an almost one-sided encounter here on Friday, December 30.
The runs were added slowly by both the teams. However, the match was a high-quality match which had a few unexpected twists and it turned out to be a microcosmic glimpse of previous performances of the two finalists in general and the two skippers in particular.
Eventually, it seemed that Maestro Titans bowling was just too weak to defend a miserable total of 119 as the men-in-blue exhibited a powerhouse performance throughout the match despite the failure of a couple of promising batsmen.
The joy of the toss win did not last long for Titans as Mukka Express proved the captain Akshay Ballal’s decision absolutely wrong by dismissing both the openers — Rohan Kadam (0) and Vishwanath (4) — in his very first over. Captian Akshay Ballal took the responsibility at this stage and made some patch up for the early damage caused by registering a brilliant knock of 41 runs off 20 balls. He smashed three sixers out of the stadium. Left-arm spinner Viswas Manipal given a turn to the match by dismissing Akshay Ballal. Then Lokesh tried to rescue the titan side by his sensible knock of 33 runs in 20balls, however, a big hit of his of the ball of Ritesh Bhatkal safely landed in the hands of Adithya Somanna. Vishwas and Shreesha poured cooled water on the high score dream of Titans by securing 3 wickets each. Titan finished its innings in 17.5 overs for 119 runs.
The opener of coastal Mohammed Taha began the innings in a grand manner by smashing powerfull hits to the boundaries. However, he surrendered his wicket clean bowled out to Rajath when the score on the board was 17. Sathya Swaroop and all-rounder Aditya Somanna’s fall of wickets was a big damage to Coastal. However, opener Rishab G M’s sensible victory knock by joining hands with Ritesh Bhatkal who scored a utilitarian 37 runs made the team register a 6 wicket win over Maestro’s. The winning bat of Rishab registered unbeaten 52 of 54 balls.
Akshay Ballal received the Purple cap award for securing 16 wickets as the best bowler and orange cap as the best batsman for securing 455 runs. He also received a Chevrolet car as a prize for the Man of the series award. Rithesh Bhatkal was adjudged Man of the match for the final match. Adhoksh Hegde received the Saqco Kamal catch award as Best Fielder. The team Karavali Warrier received the fair play award.
The Sponsor of the Tournament Zakharia Jokatte of Almuzine, Imran of Realtec were present during the Prize distribution ceremony. Among others present are Shukur Saheb Shankarpur, Moideen Bava, Ifthikar, Yashpal Suvarna etc.
Brief Score:
Maestro Titans 119/all-out (17.5 over): Akshab Ballal 41; Lokesh 20; Sinan Abdul Khader12, Abhilash 10, ArifMukka 2-0-30-2, Vishwas H 4-0-17-3; Shreesha 2-0-14-1 ; RiteshBhatkal 4-0-25-1
Coastaldigest 120/4 (18.3 overs): Rishab GM 52*; RiteshBhatkal 37
Akshay Ballal 4-0-18-2; Rajath Hegde 2-0-14-1