APL 2022 | UTL vs CSR | Srinivas, Tapaswi shines as Coastal Riders win by six wickets

In the bout against Uttarandhra Lions (UTL), Coastal Riders (CSR) emerged as a shoo-in, gathering an easy victory by six wickets. 

As many as five overs remained when Mitta Lekhaz Reddy scored the winning run, handing the Coastal Riders their first victory of the season. 

Chasing a paltry target of 134 runs, CSR rocketed like a Ferrari, scoring rapidly in the first three overs. However, as wickets fell in clusters, the CR Gnaneshwar-led team seemed in disarray. 

Shoaib Md Khan architected the collapse, with the Riders' innings lying in the doldrums. From 37/0 to 57/4, it all went down the cliff pretty soon for CSR. 

Although the Lions found themselves at the top at the end of the eighth over, Pinninti Tapaswi and Mitta Lekhaz Reddy rose to the occasion for Coastal Riders, stitching a vital 77-run partnership for the team's cause. 

Reddy and Tapaswi remained unbeaten at 32 and 43 runs, respectively and led the side towards a convincing six-wicket win.

Earlier, Uttarandhra Lions could post only 133 runs on the scoreboard after electing to bat first. 

Their openers, Srikar Bharat and C Kranthi Kumar, fared well, recording an 89-run opening stand. However, as seen in the last few games, it again proved to be a little too tricky after the tenth-over mark to maintain the run rate. 

Runs dried up, and wickets tumbled regularly; hence, the lions were restricted to 133/8 in 20 overs.

The off-spinner Sirla Hima Srinivas was CSR's best bowler as he picked three crucial wickets, conceding just 17 runs in his full quota of overs. 

Brief scores:

Uttarandhra Lions - 133/8 (20)

Srikar Bharat 52(35), C Kranthi Kumar 32(34);

Sirla Hima Srinivas 3-17 (4), Cheepurapalli Stephen 1-24 (4)

Coastal Riders - 134/4 (15)

Pinninti Tapaswi 43*(21), Mitta Lekhaz Reddy 32*(27);

Shoaib Md Khan 3-14 (3)

Coastal Riders won by six wickets.