Rampant Bellary Tuskers thrash Hubli Tigers to lift KPL-2016 title

October 3, 2016

Hubbali, Oct 3: Bellary Tuskers are the champions of the fifth edition of the Karbonn Karnataka Premiere League T20 tournament. They played a brilliant brand of T20 cricket to defeat Hubli Tigers in the final at the KSCA Stadium in Rajnagar in front of a sell-out crowd on Sunday night.

Tuskers today were in brilliant form. They played to a plan and shifted their game to a higher gear to slam local favourites Hubli Tigers by 35 runs in the final played under lights.

The challenge for the Tuskers was almost immediate. They lost the toss and were asked to take first strike. But they planned their assault on the title superbly by first posting an impregnable total of 189 for 5 and then set about ensuring that the target would beyond Hubli Tigers' reach.

The only danger for Tuskers was Hubli Tigers' opening batsman Mohammed Taha, a fearless striker at the top. However Tuskers had a plan to contain him. They took pace off the ball by introducing spinners and slower medium pacers early to confound him. He perished after making 36 (21b, 2x6, 5x4) and after that it was a cakewalk for Tuskers.

Earlier, despite losing the consistent KB Pawan to a run out in only the second over, Tuskers, coached by former Karnataka opening batsman J Arun Kumar, moved to top gear instantly.

The left handed opener Rohan Kadam (61; 40b, 1x6, 8x4), another consistent performer for Tuskers blossomed in the company of Suneel Raju (36; 27b, 2x6, 3x4) and the pair stitched together an impressive 83-run stand in 54 balls. Both batsmen rotated strike and ensured that despite losing Pawan early they rattled 53 runs in the powerplay overs.

The explosive start came in handy as other batsmen, notably man of the match B Akhil (50; 24b, 3x6, 5x4) scored at a hectic run rate. Left arm spinner Shivil Kaushik put a check on the run-rate by scalping both Raju and Kadam but as the innings progressed Akhil gave it the push to post an impregnable total.

Earlier, the teams were introduced to KSCA president PR Ashokanand during a short and smart opening ceremony.

Later, at the prize distribution, Sudhir Hasija, chairman of Karbonn Mobile praised the efforts of the organisers. “KSCA is doing a fantastic job with the KPL which is in its fifth season now. There are a lot of players from Mofussil areas, who, through the KPL, get an opportunity to showcase their talent and subsequently get a chance to play the IPL.

“The crowds today at the final game is testament to what a great tournament this is,” he added.

Brief scores:

Bellary Tuskers: 189 for 5 in 20 overs (Rohan Kadam 61, B Akhil 50, Sunil Raju 36, Shivl Kaushik 2/18) beat Hubli Tigers: 154 for 9 in 20 overs (Dikshanshu Negi 39, Md.Taha 36, Kunal Kapoor 27, Steve Lazarus 3/12, Amit Verma 2/38) by 35 runs

Orange Cap-M Agarwal 414 runs,240 balls,119*Highest Score,172.50 strike Rate,44 fours and 15 Sixes

Purple Cap: J Suchith 15 Wickets,4/26 best bowling innings,12.93 avg,6.46 economy,12 strike rate

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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