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.

A little over a month ago, N. Jagadeesan earned his maiden Test call up as a replacement for an injured Rishabh Pant. Though he did not feature in the eleven for that fifth Test against England a month ago, the experience of being a part of the Indian team meant the world to him.

This positive feeling has carried into the Duleep Trophy here, where Jagadeesan hit a fine 197 to put South Zone on top against North Zone.

“I took the positives from the India call-up in terms of being more confident. Getting an India call-up is something which a lot of people dream of. I was very lucky to be there,” Jagadeesan said here on Friday.

The Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter explained that he was guarded against being overwhelmed by the experience. “It is very important for me to not get overwhelmed, or to try and copy someone in the Indian team just because they’ve already been there. I’ve fought my way to get to the Indian team, so it is important for me to stick to what I’ve done,” Jagadeesan said.

Keep away pressure

The race to earn a wicketkeeper-batter spot in the Indian team is crowded with talent, which puts the onus on Jagadeesan to consistently make big scores on the domestic circuit. But he is wary of putting too much pressure on himself.

“I’m here to just enjoy every match. I’m grateful for the opportunity to play here, because there are a billion people who would love to play in the Duleep Trophy, Ranji Trophy, or to be a part of the Indian team.” Jagadeesan said.