Skipper R. Ashwin (52, 28b, 4x4, 3x6) and opener N. Jagadeesan (53, 41b, 1x4, 3x6) delivered when it mattered the most as last year’s finalist Dindigul Dragons thrashed Tuti Patriots by 40 runs in a TNPL match at the ICL grounds here on Saturday.
It was a good toss to win given the cloudy conditions, and Ashwin did not hesitate to bat first. He was quite confident of his openers, Hari Nishaanth and N. Jagadeesan, providing a good start.
They did not disappoint, adding 41 off just 28 balls before Nishaanth skied a catch to Subramania Siva at covers.
But Jagadeesan carried on the good work, patiently waiting for the right deliveries to take toll of. It was at this juncture that Senthil Nathan and Ganesh Moorthi took a wicket each to pull things back.
Dragons, during this phase, managed just 18 off 30 deliveries. Ashwin then started to accelerate in the company of Jagadeesan. Initially, the former played second fiddle as the latter delivered the big blows.
Read: Meg Lanning masterclass lights up Ashes T20
Jagadeesan seized the opportunity to complete his half-century in 38 balls. It was the Coimbatore youngster’s 12th fifty in the TNPL, overtaking K.B. Arun Karthick’s tally of 11. But, once Jagadeesan fell to a beauty from Ganesh Moorthi, Ashwin took over.
The India spinner hammered three sweetly-timed boundaries off paceman Nidhish Rajagopal and reached his half-century in style with a towering six. It was Ashwin's maiden TNPL fifty, in eight games.
In reply, the Patriots was never in the chase, falling like a pack of cards to some fantastic fast bowling, especially by R. Rohith (three for 16).
The side was reduced to 29 for five, the first time this season half the side has fallen inside the PowerPlay overs.
Dragons took two more in the next three overs. But, S.P. Nathan (38 n.o., 30b, 3x4, 2x6) and Ganesh Moorthi (35, 32b, 4x4, 1x6) refused to go down without a fight, forging a 76-run stand for the eighth wicket. However, it was too late to save the Patriots.
-Ruby Trichy Warriors secures comfortable win over Lyca Kovai Kings-
Later in the day, strong contender Lyca Kovai Kings combined well to defeat Ruby Trichy Warriors by 26 runs.
The Kings stuttered at the start losing two quick wickets before Pradosh Ranjan Paul injected some life with a gritty 34 (36b, 3x4, 1x6). From there, a late charge from the in-form Antony Dhas (32, 13b, 2x4, 3x6) and Akkil Srinaath (36 n.o., 22b, 4x4, 1x6) saw the team register a healthy 161 for six. The duo shared a 52-run stand, which came off just 28 balls, for the sixth wicket that turned vital.
The Warriors started its chase in a similar fashion losing two early wickets but it inched its way up steadily from there and even looked good to run it down. Pacer T. Natarajan, who went for 13 runs in the first over, however came back to pick two crucial wickets in one over off his second spell and picked two more later to crush the hopes of the Warriors.
Comments
SHARE