The TNPL’s PIN code shifting to the State capital from Dindigul brought out the best in the Trichy Grand Cholas batters. Grand Cholas, after getting shot out for 85 and suffering an abysmal 116-run loss to Vida Kovai Kings at Dindigul, racked up 197 for four against Dindigul Dragons at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Wednesday.

The 199-run chase (DLS target) proved too steep for Dragons as their effort ended at 170 for eight in 19 overs. The Tiruchi outfit’s 28-run win was built on the solid 118-run stand between openers K. Rajkumar (71, 42b, 9×4, 3×6) and J. Suresh Kumar (60, 41b, 7×4, 3×6).

After Grand Cholas were asked to bat, K. Rajkumar was hitting boundaries for fun until the heavens opened up 15 minutes into the game. The 45-minute delay meant the game was reduced to 19 overs per side.

Suresh, who was trudging along, pressed on the accelerator before being caught in the deep off P. Bhuvaneswaran. Viju Arul sending back K. Rajkumar and R. Rajkumar briefly halted the run-scoring spree, but Jafar Jamal (21, 9b, 3×6) took the team close to the 200-run mark.

Later, Shivam Singh (47, 28b, 8×4) and B. Indrajith (32, 22b, 4×4, 1×6) kept the game interesting with a 43-ball 73-run stand for the second wicket. However, once Antony Dhas (three for 25) made amends for dropping Shivam by removing Indrajith and the opener, the DD innings went off the rails. K. Easwaran (four for 25) wrapped up a much-needed victory.

The scores:

Trichy Grand Cholas 197/4 in 19 overs (K. Rajkumar 71, J. Suresh Kumar 60, Sanjay Yadav 33 n.o., Viju Arul 2/30) bt Dindigul Dragons 170/8 in 19 overs (Shivam Singh 47, B. Indrajith 32, R.K. Jayant (Impact Player) 34 n.o., K. Easwaran 4/25, Antony Dhas 3/25); DLS target 199 in 19 overs.

Thursday’s matches: Madurai Panthers vs. iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans (3.30 p.m.); Nellai Royal Kings vs. SKM Salem Spartans (7.30 p.m.).

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.

Mokit smashed his maiden TNPL century.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

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.

Chepauk Super Gillies produced a clinical bowling effort before captain N. Jagadeesan’s unbeaten 90 (58b, 8×4, 5×6) powered it to a seven-wicket win over Dindigul Dragons in the Tamil Nadu Premier League at the NPR College Ground here on Sunday.

After a rain-delayed start, Super Gillies opted to field and struck early, with pacer Abhishek Tanwar (two for 19) having Anuraag Nair (0) and R.K. Jayant (11) caught at mid-on. A mix-up saw Karthik Saran (4) get run out at the non-striker’s end, leaving Dragons at 37 for three in the PowerPlay.

Ashwanth Valthapa (two for 20) struck twice with carrom balls, trapping Shivam Singh (25) and R. Vimal Khumar (21) plumb in front to help restrict the ‘home team’ to 126 for eight.

In reply, Jagadeesan anchored the chase, reaching his fifty off 43 balls before shifting gears. He hit two consecutive sixes off spinner Mohit Mittan to seal his side’s first win of the season.

In the second match, openers Tushar Raheja (90 n.o., 52b, 6×4, 5×6) and Amith Sathvik (76, 31b, 3×4, 8×6) added 119 off 52 balls to set up iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans’ eight-wicket win over Nellai Royal Kings.

Tamizhans chased down 207 with 11 balls to spare.

Tushar was belligerent, taking the attack to pacer Emmanuel Cherian with a lofted four and three sixes, including back-to-back maximums. He brought up his fifty with a cover drive off a full toss from left-arm seamer S. Selvaganapathi.

Amith struck a 104-metre six off leg-spinner B. Rocky — the longest of the season so far — before smashing three successive maximums off the same bowler, underlining the ferocity of his assault.

The scores: Dindigul Dragons 126/8 in 20 overs (Abhishek Tanwar 2/19, Ashwanth Valthapa 2/20) lost to Chepauk Super Gillies 131/3 in 16.2 overs (N. Jagadeesan 90 n.o.). Nellai Royal Kings 206/8 in 20 overs (D. Santhosh Kumar 43, G. Ajitesh 35, U. Mukilesh 46, R. Silambarasan 4/46, Sai Kishore 2/23) lost to iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 207/2 in 18.1 overs (Amith Sathvik 76, Tushar Raheja 90 n.o., Sai Kishore 32 n.o.).

Monday’s match: SKM Salem Spartans vs. Madurai Panthers, 7.30 p.m.

When Dindigul Dragons strolled out for the Tamil Nadu Premier League season-opener here on Tuesday, there was uncertainty over how the 2024 title-winner would cope with the absence of two masters of the spin-bowling craft.

R. Ashwin is in the dugout as a mentor and not on the field while Varun Chakaravarthy is yet to recover from a hamstring injury. But in an encouraging sign for its adaptive strategy, the Dindigul side watched debutant leggie Nirankar Sharma dish out a Player-of-the-Match performance of three for 21 against iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans.

Nirankar, who moved from Madhya Pradesh to Tamil Nadu to fuel his cricket dream, tightened the screws in the middle overs with his miserly spell.

“I was just so excited. It was an emotional moment for me because I had waited for it (making his maiden appearance at such a level) for years. I could not have asked for a better debut. The Dragons management, Ashwin bhaiya and Inder (B. Indrajith) anna have been supporting me a lot,” said Nirankar, the lone DD spinner in action on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old is enjoying the time of his professional life while learning the tricks of the trade from Ashwin. “I had dreamt of working with him. He has been superb with his mentorship. He is expecting a lot from me. Hopefully, I fulfil his expectations. I cannot ask for anything better with what is going on in my life,” he added.

After making a good first impression, Nirankar should strive for consistency.