Nikin Jose’s remarkable century propelled Coastal Kings Mangaluru to an eight-wicket triumph over Gulbarga Mystics in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament. Jose’s unbeaten 100 off just 47 balls, including seven fours and eight sixes, guided Coastal Kings to victory with 21 balls to spare. This win marked Coastal Kings’ first in the tournament, while Gulbarga Mystics suffered their second consecutive defeat.
Chasing a target of 178, Coastal Kings faced an early setback with the loss of Muralidhara Venkatesh. However, Nikin Jose and captain Karun Nair’s impressive 96-run partnership off 52 deliveries steered the team to a comfortable victory. Nair’s elegant 56 off 36 balls, complemented by Jose’s well-paced innings, ensured Coastal Kings’ dominance throughout the chase.
Despite a moment of concern when Nair was run out in the 12th over, Coastal Kings remained on course for victory. Nikin Jose’s unbeaten century, the first of the season, sealed the win in style. Aaditya Nair claimed the only wicket to fall in Coastal Kings’ successful run chase.
Gulbarga Mystics, batting first, posted 177 all out in 19.5 overs after a recovery led by captain Manish Pandey. Pandey’s aggressive 70 off 34 deliveries, supported by Dhruv Prabhakar’s 22 off 14 balls, anchored the Mystics’ innings. However, a late collapse saw them lose four wickets for just one run in the final over, limiting their total to 177. Coastal Kings’ bowlers, including C.A. Karthik, Vasuki Koushik, and Shreyas Gopal, played crucial roles in restricting Gulbarga Mystics.
