Bengaluru, Aug 21 (Agency) On a rainy Tuesday evening at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Hubli Tigers faced a daunting challenge.The weather had reduced their match against the Shivamogga Lions to a shortened, high-pressure affair.With a revised target of 51 runs in just five overs, Hubli needed a hero. Enter Mohammed Taha, the explosive opener who turned a tense chase into a walk in the park. But Taha wasn’t the only star on the night; a collective team effort saw Hubli claim a commanding eight-wicket victory, marking their fourth consecutive win in the tournament.Hubli had been riding high in the Shriram Capital Maharaja Trophy, powered by FanCode, with three consecutive wins under their belt. But this match was different—rain had interrupted play, reducing the overs and heightening the drama. As Hubli’s chase began, all eyes were on Taha, known for his aggressive style but also for being inconsistent at times. This was his moment to shine, and he did not disappoint.As the first ball of the innings was bowled by Vasuki Kaushik, Taha wasted no time. With a sharp eye and a powerful swing, he sent the ball sailing over the boundary for a six. The crowd erupted, and the tone was set. Taha followed up with another six in the same over, signaling his intent and putting the Lions on the back foot immediately.But it was in the third over where Taha truly came alive. Facing Hardik Raj, who had earlier been the hero with the bat for Shivamogga, Taha launched a brutal assault. Three consecutive sixes were followed by a boundary, and suddenly, Hubli’s target seemed within easy reach. Taha’s bat was a blur of motion, his aggression relentless. In just 12 balls, he had smashed 35 runs, an innings that was as destructive as it was decisive.Taha’s blitzkrieg came to an end when he was dismissed by Pradeep in the fourth over, but by then, the damage was done. Hubli needed only six more runs to win, and KL Shrijith and Manish Pandey calmly guided the team home with 10 balls to spare.
However, Taha’s heroics were only the tip of the iceberg. The Hubli bowlers had earlier laid the foundation for the victory with a disciplined performance. Nischith Pai struck early, removing opener Bharath Dhuri in the first over, setting the tone for a tough outing for Shivamogga. KC Cariappa and Shreesha Achar further tightened the screws, with Cariappa taking two crucial wickets, including the dangerous Abhinav Manohar, who briefly threatened with two massive sixes.But it was Shivraj’s blistering knock of 24 off just six balls that brought Shivamogga back into the game. His three consecutive sixes off Achar showed that Shivamogga still had fight left in them. However, Cariappa and Kumar LR combined to take key wickets at crucial moments, preventing any sustained momentum for the Lions.In the final overs, Shivamogga struggled to capitalise on their late surge, as Ullal and Dhruv Prabhakaran were dismissed cheaply. Kaverappa’s disciplined bowling in the death overs ensured that Shivamogga couldn’t post an imposing total, eventually finishing at 137/8 in their allotted 17 overs.With this win, Hubli Tigers logged their fourth consecutive triumph in the tournament, cementing their status as top contenders. And at the heart of it all was Taha, whose fearless batting transformed a potentially tricky chase into a showcase of Hubli’s dominance. Yet, it was the collective effort of the entire team, from the bowlers to the finishers, that ensured Hubli emerged as the team to beat in this year’s Shriram Capital Maharaja Trophy.