Avinash helps Shivamogga earns consolation win against Gulbarga by 6 wickets in a shortened encounter

Shivamogga defeated Gulbarga by 6 wickets (PC: Twitter)

Shivamogga Strikers reached home against Gulbarga Mystics in a rain-affected game to earn a moral victory by six wickets.

Strikers' skipper Krishnappa Gowtham won the toss and asked Gulbarga to bat first. Rohan Patil was the first man to depart in the 4th over, putting his side into early trouble.

Devdutt Padikkal was the second man to depart, with his side reeling at 23/2. Losing wickets at regular intervals, thanks to Avinash D (3/24), Utham Aiyappa (2/23) and KC Cariappa (2/22), made their opponents' innings collapse from 47/2 to 83/8. Skipper Manish Pandey too departed cheaply for 11.

The recovery was there but never enough as Gulbarga surrendered to a meagre total of 118 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Ritesh Bhatkal was the only highlight from the batting side, with 38 from 24 deliveries striking three sixes and a four.

Strikers accelerate to end the chase

Looking to chase down 119 for the win, Shivamogga lost two early wickets before rain entered the scenario. Working in favour of Strikers, the target was reduced to 54 from 7 overs, with Krishnamurthy Siddharth and Krishnappa Gowtham still at the crease.

Needing 36 from 26 deliveries, the chase looked straight-forward when Gowtham departed on four, but Siddharth, on the other end, kept them in the game. At 42/4, Avinash and Vinay Sagar were in the centre, who then took the responsibility to end the game with three balls to spare.

Each bowler had a wicket to their name in the bowling column, but that wasn't enough to bother the Strikers.

With three wins from ten games, Shivamogga stands eliminated; on the contrary, Gulbarga will face Bengaluru Blasters in Qualifier 1.

Brief Scores: 

Gulbarga Mystics: 118-9 (20 Overs)

Ritesh Bhatkal 38 (24), Jeswath Acharya 22 (20);
Avinash D 3/24 (4), KC Cariappa 2/22 (4)

Shivamogga Strikers 54-4 (6.3 Overs)

K Siddharth 18 (12), Avinash D 11* (6);
Ritesh Bhatkal 1/8, Pranav Bhatia 1/11 (2)

Match Result: Shivamogga Strikers won by 6 wkts (VJD Method)

Also Read: Shubman Gill's ton powers India to a narrow 13 run win over Zimbabwe