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Seven-wkt. win for Belagavi Panthers

Special Correspondent

— Photo: G. Sampath Kumar

Belligerent:Shyam Ponnappa (right) put on 112 with captain J. Arun Kumar to set up Panthers' win over the Bulls.

Bangalore: Belagavi Panthers dished out a commanding performance to defeat Bijapur Bulls by seven wickets in a Mantri Karnataka Premier League match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday.

Skipper J. Arun Kumar (49, 47b, 4x4, 3x6) turned the clock back and his partner Shyam Ponnappa (60, 50b, 8x4, 2x6) took wing with brazen shots and the openers ensured that the Panthers stayed ahead while chasing Bijapur Bulls' 131 for seven in 20 overs.

The duo's 112-run partnership off 93 deliveries was the perfect base for the Panthers to leap towards its third consecutive victory in the league and lead the table with six points. The Panthers scored 132 for three in 19.1 overs. The openers started sedately and scored 22 in the first five overs but once U. Nizamuddin stepped in, Ponnappa smote him for five fours in the spinner's only over.

Arun, too joined the act, hoisting Syed Nooruddin and Ponnappa emulated the shot to reach his fifty as the openers were well on their way to scripting the highest partnership in the league so far. Arun struck Nithin Mulki for a four and a six to move to 49 but fell immediately as the top-edge swirled to backward square-leg. The Panthers then paused as Suraj Sampath and Ponnappa fell in quick succession before Vinay Uthappa's six in the penultimate over eased the nerves and victory was secured with five deliveries to spare.

Earlier, the Bulls struggled after seamer S. Dhananjaya castled Gaurav Dhiman in the first over. Mithun Beerala, Jayaprakash Shetty and skipper Sudhindra Shinde succumbed cheaply and it was left to Devraj Patil (22) and Nithin Mulki (28) to chip in with a 43-run fifth wicket partnership.

Joshi bags three

In another match, Shamanur Davangere Diamonds defeated Mangalore United by three wickets. The Mangalore team hobbled to 119 for eight in 20 overs with only R. Jonathan (39) offering some hope.

The Diamonds' skipper Sunil Joshi gained three wickets and the innings did have its share of drama as he scalped his counterpart Rohit Sabharwal, who made a hue and cry about his leg before verdict.

Joshi was again in the thick of action later as his cameo (25, 15b, 4x4) helped his team score 121 for seven in 19.3 overs.

The scores:

Bijapur Bulls 131 for seven in 20 overs (Nithin Mulki 28, B. Naveen two for 28) lost to Belagavi Panthers 132 for three in 19.1 overs (Shyam Ponnappa 60, J. Arun Kumar 49).

Mangalore United 119 for eight in 20 overs (R. Jonathan 39, Sunil Joshi three for 22) lost to Shamanur Davangere Diamonds 121 for seven in 19.3 overs (Mayank Agarwal 36, Joshi 25).

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