The Hubli Tigers faced table-toppers Mangalore Dragons in Qualifier 1 of the Maharaj Trophy KSCA T20 in the afternoon of August 26.
The Hubli-based team had reached the playoffs after finishing second in the points table with 7 wins and 3 losses in the league phase of the six-team tournament.
Upon opting to bat first in the playoff fixture, led by Devdutt Padikkal, the Hubli-based side posted a formidable total of 210 to put one foot in the final, which will be played on August 28.
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Devdutt Padikkal shines in Qualifier 1 of the Maharaja Trophy; Smashes an unbeaten 99:
While opening the batting on Tuesday afternoon, the southpaw and his fellow opener Mohammed Taha added 81 runs for the first wicket in 10 overs.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru number 3 continued the momentum alongside Abhinav Manohar and added another 105 runs in just 8 overs for the second wicket.
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At the end of the innings, Padikkal was left stranded at 99 off 64 deliveries with the help of 10 fours and 5 sixes, finishing the innings at a strike rate of 154.69.
Manohar also scored 50(23) alongside Manavnth Kumar L's cameo of 16*(6) to put Hubli in the driver's seat.
With this knock, Padikkal went up to number 1 in the list of highest run scorers in the tournament, with 439 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 155.12.
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The Tigers went on to win the match by 110 runs, as captain Padikkal's inspired captaincy guided them to bowl out the Dragons for just 100 runs.