TNPL: Dindigul Dragons wins at a canter

Chaturved and Jagadeesan star in Dragons’ eight-wicket win over Lyca Kovai Kings.

In full flow: Dragons’ Jagadeesan en route to his unbeaten 66.

N. S. Chaturved’s blistering 72 (36b, 5x4, 6x6) and an unbeaten half century by N. Jagadeesan powered Dindigul Dragons to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Lyca Kovai Kings in the third edition of the Sankar Cement TNPL at the NPRCET grounds here on Wednesday.

Openers C. Hari Nishaanth and N. Jagadeesan got Dragons off to a flier before Hari Nishaanth was scalped by K. Vignesh. Chaturved then continued with the same aggressive intent. Vignesh was taken for 22 runs in the final over of the PowerPlay as Dindigul Dragons raced to 76 for one.

The 50-run partnership between Jagadeesan and Chaturved helped Dragons reach hundred in the ninth over. Lyca Kovai Kings’ bowlers lacked discipline as they bowled too short giving ample time for both batsman to cut and pull.

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Both of them brought up their half centuries off successive overs along with the hundred-run partnership. Chaturved continued to clear the ropes at will before he was taken at long-off while Jagadeesan applied the finishing touches.

Shahrukh fifty in vain

Earlier, aggressive half-centuries by M. Shahrukh Khan and Akkil Srinaath propelled Kovai Kings to 185 for five. Kovai Kings was off to a bad start with a mix up between Shahrukh and Abhinav Mukund leading to the latter’s dismissal.

A direct hit by R. Vivek caught Pradosh Ranjan Paul short, reducing Kovai Kings to 24 for two. Shahrukh used the long handle to good effect, finding the ropes at regular intervals as Kovai Kings ended PowerPlay at 56 for two.

R. Rohith gave Shahrukh robust company with some lusty blows before being castled by a beauty from R. Ashwin. Shahrukh reached his 50 with a boundary of Ashwin. Southpaw Srinaath joined him and was the dominant partner in their 50-run partnership and he, on his own, completed a quickfire half-century.

Both players changed gears to complete a 100-run partnership as Kovai Kings posted a challenging total.

• Lyca Kovai Kings 185 for five in 20 overs (M. Shahrukh Khan 86, Akkil Srinaath 54 n.o., R. Rohith 26) lost to Dindigul Dragons 190 for two in 17.4 overs (N.S. Chaturved 72, N. Jagadeesan 66 n.o., S.B. Anirudh 25 n.o.).