Published: Sep 03, 2016, 05:58 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 03, 2016, 06:02 PM (IST)
Karaikudi Kaalai managed to win the 11th match of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) against Tuti Patriots by 8 runs. Having set a target of 112 runs, they restricted the Patriots to 103 for 9, after putting in a fabulous bowling effort. Patriots needed 17 off the final two overs. But could only manage 5 off the second last over bowled by Rakjumar. With 12 needed off the last over, Chandrasekhar Ganapathy had the ball in his hands. A single off the first ball, and Aswin Crist’s wicket of the second ball, meant 11 were needed off 4 balls. The next 4 balls produced two more wickets and ultimately Ganapathy bowled an excellent last over. This was the first win of the tournament for Karaikudi Kaalai. TNPL 2016 Schedule & Fixture: Complete Time Table, Dates, Venue & Match Timings of Tamil Nadu Premier League
Earlier, both left-handers, Abhinav Mukund and Washington Sundar were out cheaply in the chase. Mukund was caught by Shoaib Mohammad Khan off the bowling of Mohan Prasath. Soon Washington Sundar too was out leg-before wicket. Tuti Patriots were 21 for 2. Kaushik Gandhi and Subramanian Anand then put on a small partnership, before Gandhi was caught trying to slash hard off the bowling of Rajumar. He went for 27. READ: TNPL 2016 Points Table & Team Standings
Rajumar then picked up the wicket of SP Nathan as well to make it 67 for 4. Suresh Babu’s tight overs of spin bowling then produced yet another wicket for Karaikudi Kadai. Umashankar Sushil was caught brilliantly by Suresh off his own bowling. At 72 for 5 the Patriots were looking like they were running out of fuel. And to make it worse, Anand, then set at the crease, was caught by Rajkumar trying to clear the field, while Sonu Yadav claimed the wicket. At the 16-over mark the Tuti Patriots were 85 for 6.
Earlier, Karaikudi Kaalai set a target of 112 runs in their 20 overs. After a splendid bowling effort from the Patriots, Kaalai did manage to find some crucial runs in the last few overs, to cross the 100-run mark. Thanks to a Subramaniam Badrinath 49-run knock, Kaalai could recover from the wickets that they lost througout their innings. Chandrasekhar Ganapathy did play a fine cameo with 29 runs off 17 balls at the closing stages of the innings. But some fine bowling in the last 2 overs, again brought back the momentum to the Tuti Patriots. Kaalai were 111 for 8 in their 20 overs. Aswin Crist was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets for 27 runs.
Tuti Patriots bowlers were right on the money in the early few overs. Both the Karakudai Kaalai openers M Vijakumar and S Anirudha were out cheaply. First Vijaykumar was caught by Tuti Patriots captain Abhinav Mukund at covers trying to hit the ball hard, after conceding a tight-first over. Then Ganesh Moorthi claimed the wicket of Anirudha, who was caught by Washington Sundar at backward point. Kaalai were 5 for 2 then.
37 for 3 at the half way mark, Karaikudi Kaalai needed a move on. Subramaniam Badrinath did increase the run-rate with three boundaries off Akash Surma’s 12th over of the innings. But wickets continued to fall at regular intervals for Kaalai. First Washington Sundar cleaned up Srinivasan, and soon Rajkumar was also bowled by Aushik Srinivas. After 15 overs, Kaalai were reeling at 69 for 5, in need of some big runs. Badrinath though, was still at the crease, but runs were difficult to come by.
Brief Scores
Karaikudi Kaalai 111 for 8 in 20 overs (Subramaniam Badrinath 49; Aswin Crist 3 for 27) vs Tuti Patriots 103 for 9 (Kaushik Gandhi 27, Subramanian Anand 24; Chandraseklhar Ganapathy 3 for 23)
