KPL 2018 | How can Bijapur Bulls make it to the semi-finals
With nine games to go before the semi-finals of the Karnataka Premier League, Bijapur Bulls are lying at the third place on the points table. After a win against Bellary Tuskers yesterday, the Bulls have collected four points from four games and now will look forward to securing a semis berth.
After losing their first game and then two back-to-back games being washed out before yesterday’s encounter, the Bulls were in some trouble as per the points table. They had only two points to their names from three games prior to their match against Bellary that they won yesterday.
The runners-up from the last edition have got two more games to play in the league stage as they are going to face Myusuru Warriors and Shivamogga Lions in their remaining matches. Bengaluru Blasters and Hubli Tigers are leading the points table now with seven points each and they have played four games as well. With four teams out of seven to get a place in the semi-finals, Belagavi Panthers are at number four with three points from three games.
With only one point from five games, Bellary Tuskers are not a threat for Bijapur Bulls whereas at number five is Mysuru Warriors with two points but have four games to go, one of them is against the Bulls. The formula becomes simple for the Bijapur Bulls then, they will look forward to winning against Mysuru Warriors on Saturday and then their next target will be bottom-placed Shivamogga Lions.
So, with victories against Mysuru and Shivamogga, Bijapur will finish with eight points from six games which will be enough to take them to the semi-finals without any trouble. There would be more permutations and combinations if Mysuru and Shivamogga go on to beat the Bulls in the two remaining encounters and then the number crunching will take a different turn.
Mysuru and Shivamogga are scheduled to face each other on Tuesday and with these two eying for places in the semi-finals with four matches to go for each team, the Bijapur team management will be closely following the result of Tuesday’s clash between the two teams. A win for Mysuru will take them to number three considering their better net run-rate and less number of matches. This might trouble the Bulls by pushing them down to number four on the points table.