Published: Sep 12, 2016, 10:20 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 12, 2016, 11:14 PM (IST)
In Match 25 of Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2016, Chepauk Super Gillies (CSG) clashed against VB Thiruvallur Veerans (VTV). Winning the toss, CSG elected to bat and posted a modest score of 154 for 3 in 20 overs. CSG’s wicketkeeper-batsman, Gopinath’s 62 helped them reach to a challenging total as VTV got bundled out for a paltry score of 113 for 9 in 20 overs. CSG won the match convincingly by 41 runs and have consolidated their position on the top spot. CSG have already made it to the semi-finals of the inaugural edition of TNPL 2016 whereas VTV are at the third spot currently with four wins and three losses. They have completed their matches and other teams performance will determine their progress. ALSO READ: Dindigul Dragons ease through to the playoffs, following 7-wicket win over Karaikudi Kaalai
With the points table heating up, VTV would be hurt with this big loss. TUTI Patriots (TP) have gained some momentum back with two back-to-back wins will like to make full use of VTV’s loss. Batting first, CSG started the innings in a good fashion. CSG had wickets in hand since the start of their innings and played with composure.
Gopinath, their opener, guided and held his side’s batting with a valiant 62. VTV’s Lakshmi Narayanan got the first wicket of the match dismissing Thalaivan Sargunam for 13. Gopinath then stitched a well composed 84 runs partnership with No. 3 batsman, Sathiamoorty Saravanan. Saravanan also got to his fifty and was more attacking of the two. He smashed two boundaries and four sixes in his 36 balls innings.
VTV’s bowlers were taken to the cleaners in the middle-overs but came back hard in the death overs. They did not run through CSG’s batting line-up but applied the brakes on their scoring after the dismissal of Saravanan. Rahil Shah and Sanjay Yadav stopped the run of flow for CSG as they were looking for a big score. Being 122 for 1 in 16 overs, CSG would have thought of finishing above 170.
CSG would only end up with 32 runs in the last four overs even though they lost only two in their quota of 20 overs. In reply, VTV were never in the chase as they kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. R Alexander and Ashwath Mukumthan wreaked havoc of a dependable batting line-up of VTV. Aparajith’s no showing with the bat proved to be costly as VTV totally lost the plot.
Aparajith has been in ominous form with the bat in this inaugural edition of TNPL 2016 and has held the responsibilities of his side single handedly. His dismissal proved the turning point as VTV surrendered without a fight. VTV somehow managed to bat out the entire overs, which would be something to cheer for them, but lost by a comprehensive manner.
There were no partnerships for VTV as they were nine wickets down before putting up 100 on board. Their highest partnership was of 32 runs for the eighth wicket which tells their story. Debutant bowler, Mukumthan was spot on with his variations and bowled according to the field settings which bore good results for him and his side. He finished with match winning figures of 4-0-17-5 and was rightly adjudged Man of the Match.
Mukumthan was well complimented from the other end by Alexander who also picked up two scalps. Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore and Antony Dhas picked up a wicket each to totally break the backbone of VTV’s batting line-up. This was the same team who scored 170 for 6 against Lyca Kovai Kings (LKK) and won the match by 2 runs. Their main reason of failure was Aparajith’s flop show.
After this match, there are still three games to go before the tournament heads into the knockout stages. As of now, CSG and Dindigul Dragons (DDD) are through to the next round whereas there are as many as four teams still alive or with a slim chance of making it to the other round. Barring Ruby Kanchi Warriors (RKW) and Madurai Super Giants (MSG), VTV, LKK, TP and Karaikudi Kaalai. have a chance to sneak in with CSG and DDD to the semis.
September 13 will see a double header in TNPL 2016 with DDD up against LKW whereas the other game will be played between TP vs MSG at MA. Chidambaram stadium, Chennai. The finale is slated to be on September 18 at MA. Chidambaram stadium.
Brief scores:
Chepauk Super Gillies 154 for 3 (Gopinath 62, Sathiamoorty Saravanan 54; Lakshmi Narayanan 2 for 32) beat VB Thiruvallur Veerans 113 for 9 (Malolan Rangarajan 23, Ramalingam Rohit 34; Ashwath Mukumthan 5 for 17, R Alexander 2 for 33) by 41 runs.
