Match Details – BB vs MD:
- Match: Bengaluru Blasters vs Mangalore Dragons, 16th Match, Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2024
- Date and Time: August 22, 01:30 pm GMT / 07:30 pm BST / 07:00 pm local time
- Venue: M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
BB vs MD Preview:
The Bengaluru Blasters have been in excellent form, losing just one of their matches so far. Their only defeat came against the table-topping Hubli Tigers in their previous game.
This season, the Blasters' batting lineup has been spearheaded by the dynamic opener LR Chethan, who has amassed 157 runs in four innings, averaging nearly 40 with a strike rate of 148. Bhuvan Raju has also been outstanding, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 171 while averaging 59. Captain Mayank Agarwal has provided stability with his solid performances, though he needs to continue playing the anchor role to allow the other batsmen to flourish around him.
On the bowling front, Gneshwar Naveen has been exceptional, taking 8 wickets in four matches with a remarkable economy rate of just 5.28, especially impressive given the conditions at this venue. Kranthi Kumar and Aditya Goyal are other key bowlers who could play crucial roles in this match.
On the other hand, the Mangalore Dragons have struggled this season, winning only one out of their four matches. They've lost two games, and their last match was washed out due to rain. To turn their season around, they'll need to significantly improve their performance.
The Dragons will rely heavily on their top scorer, Krishnamurthy Siddharth, who has scored 132 runs in four matches with a strike rate of 180.82, to provide a strong start. Openers Rohan Patil and Macneil Hadley Noronha have both been in good form, each scoring over 100 runs at healthy strike rates. However, the middle order needs to step up, with captain Shreyas Gopal, a talented all-rounder, expected to lead by example. Nikin Jose is also backed to deliver a solid performance in this game.
The Dragons' bowling unit has been relatively consistent, with contributions from multiple players. Abhilash Shetty has taken 4 wickets, while MB Darshan, Paras Arya, and Shreyas Gopal have each claimed 3 wickets.
