TNPL 2022: Nellai Royal Kings overpowers Dindigul Dragons for third straight win

In a game reduced to 12 overs-a-side, The Royal Kings chased down a target of 131 with an over to spare thanks to half-centuries from Sanjay Yadav and B. Aparajith.

Sanjay Yadav was declared the man of the match for his quick-fire half century, which included four consecutive sixes of left arm spinner Monish Satish.

Nellai Royal Kings has laid down the marker as the team to beat in the Tamil Nadu Premier League this year as it posted its third straight win, beating Dindigul Dragons comprehensively by eight wickets at the NPR College Ground in Dindigul on Thursday.

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In a rain-hit match that was reduced to 12 overs-a-side, R. Sanjay Yadav (55 n.o., 19b, 2x4, 6x6) and B. Aparajith (59 n.o., 30b, 4x4, 4x6) slammed sensational half-centuries to help Royal Kings chase a steep 131 with relative ease in the end with an over to spare.

Despite getting a sub-par start after losing the openers cheaply, Aparajith and Sanjay Yadav did not hold back and went after the Dragons’ bowlers, who erred in length and paid the price.

With 96 needing from seven overs, the duo went after medium-pacer R. Vivek in the sixth over, with each batter pocketing a six and four each to plunder 22 runs.

Sanjay got a reprieve in the eighth over when he sliced medium-pacer S. Arun over backward point only for M. Silambarasan to spill an easy chance with the batter on 22.

The Mumbai Indians all-rounder then made Dragons pay for the miss in the next over when he hit left-arm spinner Monish Satish for four consecutive sixes and sealed the tie in the favour of Royal Kings.

Earlier, openers K. Vishal Vaidya and C. Hari Nishaanth gave Dragons a flying start with an 82-run stand off just 45 balls. But Royal Kings fought back with medium-pacer Sri Neranjan scalping three wickets in his first two overs to halt Dragons’ march.

The scores: Dindigul Dragons 130/5 in 12 overs (K Vishal Vaidhya 45, C. Hari Nishaanth 37, Sri Neranjan 3/32) lost to Nellai Royal Kings 133/2 in 11 overs  (B. Aparajith 59 n.o., R. Sanjay Yadav 55 n.o.). MoM: R. Sanjay Yadav

Siechem Madurai Panthers registers narrow win In the second match of the day, Siechem Madurai Panthers huffed and puffed its way to a two-wicket win against Lyca Kovai Kings. Chasing 152, captain N.S. Chaturved led from the front with a brilliant 75 (45b, 4x4, 6x6) and his side was cruising towards victory, needing 27 off the last five overs with seven wickets in hand. In the 16th over, Kovai Kings captain M. Shahrukh Khan (4/14) turned things around as he picked up three wickets including that of Chaturved to give his side a chance. However, J. Kousik held his nerves at the other end and helped the Panthers win its second match with just one ball to spare. The scores: Lyca Kovai Kings 151 in 20 overs (U. Mukilesh 50, J. Suresh Kumar 46, R. Silambarasan 3/28, Sunny Sandhu 2/13, L. Kiran Akash 2/40) lost to Siechem Madurai Panthers 154/8 in 19.5 overs  (N.S. Chaturved 75, K.B. Arun Karthick 38, M. Shahrukh Khan 4/14, Abhishek Tanwar 2/22).