Rajkumar’s all-round show was instrumental in Grand Cholas’ victory over Royal Kings.
| Photo Credit: G. KARTHIKEYAN
Captain J. Suresh Kumar’s 32-ball 58 (4×4, 3×6), R. Rajkumar’s all-round performance, and slinger Athisayaraj Davidson’s four for 24 in three overs powered Trichy Grand Cholas to a 45-run win over Nellai Royal Kings in the TNPL at the NPR College Ground here on Tuesday.
Chasing 183, Royal Kings was bowled out for 137, with U. Mukilesh scoring 63 off 45 balls (2×4, 3×6).
Rajkumar smashed 45 off 19 balls (2×4, 5×6) before taking two wickets (two for 39) with off-cutters. He dismissed Rithik Easwaran (18), who edged to short third man, and Muhammed Adnan Khan (three), who holed out to wide long-on.
Athisayaraj struck twice in the opening over, forcing D. Santhosh Kumar to play on and having G. Ajitesh caught at cover with a deceptive off-cutter, both for golden ducks.
He, later, had N.S. Harish (three) caught at long-off and castled Sonu Yadav (12) with a yorker.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Sachin Rathi returned three for 17, including a double-wicket maiden, after Royal Kings opted to field.
Amit Sathvik notched up his second fifty on the trot.
| Photo Credit:
G. KARTHIKEYAN
In the second match, opener Amith Sathvik’s second consecutive fifty (66, 29b, 5×4, 6×6) took iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans to its third successive win, as it chased down a target of 167 to beat Vida Kovai Kings by four wickets.
He twice hit back-to-back sixes, first off spinner Shahrukh Khan — a slog-sweep to deep backward square leg and a pull to cow corner — and later against pacer G. Kishoor, cutting over the sweeper and hooking to fine leg.
Tamizhans left-arm seamer T. Natarajan finished with two for 24 off four tidy overs, having R.S. Ambrish (10) pull to deep midwicket and skipper Shahrukh Khan (18) guide a bouncer to short third-man.
The scores: Trichy Grand Cholas 182/8 in 20 overs (J. Suresh Kumar 58, R. Rajkumar 45, Sachin Rathi 3/17, N.S. Harish 2/37) bt Nellai Royal Kings 137 in 18 overs (U. Mukilesh 63, Athisayaraj Davidson 4/24, K. Easwaran 2/15, R. Rajkumar 2/39).
Vida Kovai Kings 166/8 in 20 overs (B. Sachin 30, C. Andre Siddarth 36, T. Natarajan 2/24, R. Silambarasan 2/47) lost to iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 167/6 in 18 overs (Amith Sathvik 66, M. Mathivanan 34 n.o., G. Kishoor 2/44, Jhathavedh Subramanyan 2/21).
Wednesday’s matches: Chepauk Super Gillies vs. SKM Salem Spartans, 3.30 p.m.; Dindigul Dragons vs. Madurai Panthers, 7.30 p.m.
Published – August 12, 2026 12:06 am IST
