Karun Nair announced his arrival in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA 2023 tournament in grand fashion by scoring a quickfire century against Gulbarga Mystics. Playing for Mysuru Warriors, the right-handed batsman went all guns blazing from the get-go and kept accelerating the scoreboard with his aggressive strokeplay. As it turned out, he went on to smash a century off just 40 deliveries.
Karun Nair couldn’t be any happier as delivered the goods considering the context of the tournament. Mysuru Warriors were involved in the second semi-final fixture against Gulbarga Mystics. The intriguing T20 fixture took place at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on August 28, Monday. Karun Nair flexed his muscles in the best way possible and played the best knock of his domestic T20 career.
Karun Nair hammers a 40-ball century in Maharaja Trophy KSCA 2023
Batting first, Mysuru Warriors immensely benefitted from the supreme services of Karun Nair as he scored an unbeaten 107 off just 42 balls at a phenomenal strike rate of 254.76. He constructed his innings with the help of seven fours and nine hits over the fence. Ravikumar Samarth also played pretty well as an opener. He scored 80 off 50 balls including 10 fours and 2 sixes.
Karun Nair, you powerhouse! 107* off just 42 balls 😱 #MaharajaTrophy #KSCA pic.twitter.com/LEhw94msmk
— FanCode (@FanCode) August 28, 2023
Karun Nair-led team posted a humongous total of 248/2 in their designated quota of 20 overs. In response, Gulbarga Mystics also put up a tremendous fight in the run chase, which was an absolute peach of a run-scoring fest. Macneil Hadley Noronha and Abul Hasan Khalid rose to the occasion and scored a half-century apiece but that wasn’t enough for them to guide the team over the finishing line.
Macneil Hadley Noronha scored a quickfire 61 off 34 balls including 4 fours and 3 sixes. On the other hand, Abul Hasan Khalid chipped in with 54 off 29 balls with the help of 1 four and 5 hits over the fence. Despite Gulbarg Mystics’ incredible resistance, Karun Nair and Co had the last laugh in the battle. Mysuru Warriors restricted Vijaykumar Vyshak-led Gulbarg Mystics to 212/8 in 20 overs and won the game by 36 runs.
Karun Nair was adjudged the Man of the Match. “I loved it out there. I’m very happy to contribute to the team winning. One more game to go and one more inning to go. It was a good wicket, really happy with that. It’s always been a good wicket here at the KSCA,” Karun Nair said after the game. Mysuru Warriors will lock horns with Hubli Tigers in the final at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on August 29 (Tuesday).
