KPL 2018 | Bijapur Bulls crowned champions after thrashing Bengaluru Blasters by seven wickets
Bharath Chipli-led Bijapur Bulls won the Karnataka Premier League (KPL)-2018 title by beating Bengaluru Blasters by seven wickets in the one-sided final clash in Mysore on Thursday. The Bulls chased down the target of 102 runs in 13.5 overs in yet another one-sided clash in this year’s KPL.
Bijapur Bulls' bowlers vindicated their captain's decision of bowling first by picking up wickets at regular intervals to restrict the opposition from scoring runs at a brisk pace. Although KB Pawan was put down by Naveen MG off the very first ball, skipper Bharath Chipli soon came to lift the spirit of Bijapur fielders with a direct hit to run Chethan William out in the same over. India international Robin Uthappa, who looked in a good touch with a couple of fours, edged Naveen’s ball into the wicket-keeper’s gloves for nine.
Apart from Pawan’s knock of 22 runs at the top of the order, other Bengaluru batsmen failed miserably against the bowlers. Slow left-arm bowler KP Appanna ran through the batting line-up by picking up three wickets and the team ended with 101 runs.
Chasing 102 in 20 overs, the Bulls’ openers started off really well before Bharath was castled by Shreyas Gopal. Naveen MG then carried on with his batting form and went on to add 43 runs before getting out to Manoj Bhandage.
The Bulls also lost the wicket of KL Shrijith but that was not enough to put any pressure on them with a
Bijapur skipper Chipli, who finished with 254 total runs in this season, bagged Man of the Tournament and Best Batsman of the Tournament award while MG Naveen became the Man of the Final for his all-round show today.
