MATCH REPORT
Follow UsP Bhuvaneswaran's 5/17 helped iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans snatch a seven-wicket win over Nellai Royal Kings in the 10th match of the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2023 at NPR Cricket Ground, Dindigul. The match witnessed a few minutes of rain at the beginning. The toss also played an important role, as the conditions helped the bowlers initially.
iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, who opted to field, used the conditions well. P Bhuvaneswaran dominated the numbers, while experienced G Periyasamy supported him from the other end.
Despite going for two boundaries in his first over, P Bhuvaneswaran bounced back well and dismissed Sri Neranjan R for 13 (8). In his second over, he grabbed two wickets. L Suryapprakash and KB Arun Karthik did not disturb the scoreboard much and fell for P Bhuvaneswaran. Lakshay Jain struggled to time the ball today and made 8 (24) before getting out to Sai Kishore.
Nellai Royal Kings were 49/5 at the end of the 10th over. They needed something special from the middle order to put a fighting total on the board, and Sonu Yadav provided the same. The aggressive batter smashed two fours and as many sixes for his 32-ball 35. He had support from Rithik Easwaran (15 off 8 balls).
G. Ajitesh, who made the first century of the TNPL 2023 while opening the inning in the last game against Lyca Kovai Kings, batted at number eight today. He made an important contribution with a 14-ball 20 to take the team to 124.
P Bhuvaneswaran dismissed G Ajitesh and Sandeep Warrier in consecutive deliveries to complete his fifer. With his spell of 5/17, he becomes the Ather Purple Cap holder for TNPL 2023. G. Periyasamy showed his experience and picked up a couple of wickets as well. He ended with 2/9 from his three overs.
Chasing a below-par score of 125, iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans had an excellent start, with both openers firing from each end. R. Tushar Raheja was the first to begin the attack in the inning. He smacked three sixes and a four off Sandeep Warrier in the third over. They ended the power play at 54-0 and continued to dominate. The openers added 73 runs before S. Radhakrishnan fell to Sonu Yadav for 34 (30).
B Anirudh Sita Ram played the perfect second fiddle for Tushar Raheja and gave him the maximum strike. The opener was unfortunate to miss out on his half-century by one run. He got to S. Lakshay Jain. The Nellai Royal Kings bowled well in the middle overs and made it difficult to score for the iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans. Lakshay Jain's 1/14 brought the team back into the game. At one point, the run rate went over six runs per over for the first time since the third over of the inning.
While Nellai Royal Kings continued to apply pressure, R Vivek kept his cool and played a scoop shot for a six off Sandeep Warrier. The aggressive batter added another boundary to end the 15th over at 104/2. R. Vivek got out for 13-ball 21 in the 17th over, but he had done the necessary damage before that.
iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans then won the game, their first win of the tournament, in the 19th over and also handed Nellai Royal Kings their first loss of the TNPL 2023. After winning the game, iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans keeper Tushar Raheja said: Dismissing the top order of Nellai Royal Kings inside the powerplay kept us in the game. We take one match at a time and do not think much about what happened earlier in the tournament.
On Wednesday, Chepauk Super Gillies will look to bounce back as they meet the table-toppers, Dindigul Dragons, in the evening match. In the second match of the day, Ba11sy Trichy will eye their first victory of the TNPL 2023 as they meet the second-placed Lyca Kovai Kings.
(Match report Courtsey : TNPL.Cricket)
