When persistent rain and a delayed start kept Spartans waiting, little would they have known what was about to hit them. However, once the skies cleared and the match began, there was nowhere to hide.

Dindigul Dragons captain B. Indrajith (73, 25b, 3×4, 8×6) led a breathtaking assault to hand the Spartans an 81-run thrashing in a 15-over-a-side Tamil Nadu Premier League clash at the NPR College ground here on Friday.

The Dragons’ innings began in breathless fashion as openers Shivam Singh (38) and V.K. Vineeth (45) tore into the bowling, racing to 70 in only four overs. Vineeth’s run-out briefly offered the Salem Spartans some respite before debutant E. Krish departed for a golden duck, but the Salem outfit was under the pump soon after. Vimal Khumar (35, 17b, 1×4, 3×6) and Indrajith took over and turned the heat on the Spartans’ bowlers, putting on 62 off just 24 balls for the fourth wicket.

Boundaries flowed with such regularity that the opposition looked clueless. Even Vimal’s dismissal did little to stem the flow of runs.

Indrajith, joined by Hunny Saini (29, 10b, 2×4, 3×6), took the attack apart in the 13th over bowled by M. Poiyamozhi, plundering 32 runs with four maximums and a four.

The onslaught continued in the following over against Uday Kumar, with the pair clearing the ropes four more times, as Dragons finished with 239 for six. The mammoth chase was headed in only one direction, and Dragons made sure the Spartans were never in with a shout.

In the second match, Mokit Hariharan’s maiden century (108, 50b, 4×4, 10×6) and a record-breaking 169-run opening stand with Chepauk Super Gillies captain N. Jagadeesan (79) saw his team tame Madurai Panthers by 39 runs.

Debutant V. Hari Ragavendra’s fighting 98 (55b, 9×4, 6×6) kept Panthers in the hunt, but it proved insufficient as they suffered their first defeat.

The scores: Dindigul Dragons 239/6 in 15 overs (Shivam Singh 38, V.K. Vineeth 45, B. Indrajith 73, Karthick Manikandan 2/14, R. Vivek 3/22) bt SKM Salem Spartans 158/8 in 15 overs (S. Abishiek 38, M. Viju Arul 3/29). Chepauk Super Gillies 240/2 in 20 overs (Mokit Hariharan 108, N. Jagadeesan 79, Swapnil Singh 42 n.o., G. Periyasamy 2/33) bt Madurai Panthers 201/8 in 20 overs (V. Hari Ragavendra 98, Swapnil Singh 2/17, J. Prem Kumar 2/28).

Saturday’s match: Vida Kovai Kings vs. Trichy Grand Cholas, 7.30 p.m.