N.S. Chaturved’s blistering knock powered Madurai Panthers to victory against Kovai Kings.
| Photo Credit: G. KARTHIKEYAN
N.S. Chaturved had left little impression on TNPL 2025: 139 runs off 107 balls at 129.90, no half-century. But on Saturday at the NPR College Ground, he produced an innings that belonged to a different statistical universe altogether.
He scored 121 off just 47 balls (15×4, 7×6) at 257.45, reaching his maiden TNPL century off 40 deliveries, the fastest in the league’s history. A batter who had offered no warning produced something spectacular. And his team Madurai Panthers benefitted, chasing down 240 against Vida Kovai Kings with six wickets and three balls to spare.
Chaturved’s innings was a study in repetition: the pull and sweep repeatedly found deep square leg and deep midwicket, with the occasional charge down the track unsettling the bowlers. He raced to his fifty off just 19 balls, then accelerated further, cutting and driving when width was offered and carting anything full into the deep.
Even after reaching three figures, there was no easing off. He launched pacer R.S. Ambrish over cow corner before charging leg-spinner Jhathavedh Subramanyan for a four through covers and a six over deep midwicket.
Chaturved and Siddharth Mahadevan added 162 off 74 deliveries, a record second-wicket partnership in the TNPL.
Earlier, C. Andre Siddarth hit his maiden TNPL fifty (87 n.o., 42b, 8×4, 6×6) while B. Sachin struck his second consecutive half-century (84, 43b, 9×4, 5×6) as Kings posted 239 for four, the highest team total at that time. But later, Panthers pulled off the highest successful chase in TNPL history.
In the second match, opener K. Rajkumar’s unbeaten 67 (43b, 5×4, 3×6), his maiden TNPL fifty, guided Trichy Grand Cholas to a seven-wicket win over SKM Salem Spartans.
The scores: Vida Kovai Kings 239/4 in 20 overs (S. Lokeshwar 38, B. Sachin 84, C. Andre Siddarth 87 n.o., Gurjapneet Singh 2/41) lost to Madurai Panthers 240/4 in 19.3 overs (Siddharth Mahadevan (Impact Player) 41, N.S. Chaturved 121, B. Anirudh Sitaram 37 n.o., Jhathavedh Subramanyan 2/32).
SKM Salem Spartans 152/9 in 20 overs (R. Kavin 38, C. Hari Nishaanth 36, Nidhish Rajagopal 30, Antony Dhas 2/25, Sanjay Yadav 2/18) lost to Trichy Grand Cholas 155/3 in 17 overs (K. Rajkumar 67 n.o., J. Kousik 46).
Sunday’s matches: Chepauk Super Gillies vs. Dindigul Dragons, 3.30 p.m.; iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans vs. Nellai Royal Kings, 7.30 p.m.
Published – August 09, 2026 12:23 am IST
