Chepauk Super Gillies expectedly defeated Lyca Kovai Kings by 27 runs via the VJD method at the ICL grounds in Sankar Nagar here on Friday. It gave Gillies a spot in the Tamil Nadu Premier League final which it will contest against Albert Tuti Patriots on Sunday. Chasing a victory target of 137, Gillies was nicely cruising at 90 for one in 11 overs when rains paused play.
Thalaivan Sargunam (33 not out, 33b, 3x4, 1x6) and S. Karthik (38 not out, 28b, 2x4, 3x6) laid the foundation for the team's comfortable win. After opener K. H. Gopinath was dismissed by K. Vignesh in the first over, Sargunam and Karthik occupied the crease with ease and bullied the bowlers time and again to steer the team into the final.
The victory will boost the morale of the team ahead of its ‘final’ meeting for the second time in two seasons with the defending champion - Patriots - in Chennai.
Full of cameos
Earlier, the ever reliable left-arm orthodox spinner R. Sai Kishore struck in the second over of the day, trapping the in-form L. Suryapprakash plumb in front. And the Gillies roared in delight. Kings, on the other hand, was a little upset as the team had planned to go full throttle inside the first six overs. After a period of struggle, skipper Murali Vijay (24, 21b, 3x4) and B. Anirudh Sita Ram went into overdrive. The former hammered R. Sathish for back-to-back boundaries and in the very next over the latter hoisted left-arm spinner R. Alexander for a six. He followed it up with a punching drive through the covers.
Alexander returned the favour quite soon, removing Anirudh for 19. It was a delivery that climbed suddenly; Anirudh went for the pull and ended up offering an easy catch to K. H. Gopinath at short midwicket. He came back later to surprise the dangerous-looking Vijay with a real turner. The India star stepped out to hit big but was deceived by the turn and wicket-keeper S. Karthik did the rest.
Akshay Srinivasan and R. Rohith, who scored the fastest TNPL century on Wednesday, were back in the pavilion soon. But when the chips were down, M. Mohammed (30, 25b, 3x4, 2x6) and Harish Kumar (32, 19b, 2X4, 2x6) offered cameos to help the team score 136 for nine.
The scores
Lyca Kovai Kings 136 for nine in 20 overs (Murali Vijay 24, M. Mohammed 30, Harish Kumar 32; R. Alexander 2 for 25, R. Sai Kishore 2 for 16, Antony Dhas 2 for 27) lost to Chepauk Super Gillies 90 for one in 11 overs (Thalaivan Sargunam 33 not out, S. Karthik 38 not out).
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