TNPL: Kanchi Warriors has it easy against Madurai Super Giants

Ruby Kanchi Warriors secured a seven-wicket win over Madurai Super Giants in a TNPL match in Natham on Friday. Warriors chased down 136 runs with 2.3 overs to spare.

K. Bharath Shankar gave a flying start to Ruby Kanchi Warriors.

Ruby Kanchi Warriors registered a comfortable seven-wicket win over Madurai Super Giants in the India Cements Tamil Nadu Premier League at NPR CET grounds in Natham on Friday. It was Giants’ fifth loss in as many matches.

Chasing 136, K. Bharath Shankar (37, 24b, 4x4, 3x6) gave Warriors a flying start as it raced to 34 for no loss in three overs. But after Shankar was dismissed by S.V. Muruganantham, Giants pulled things back as Warriors ended the PowerPlay at 49 for one.

Opener R. Nilesh Subramanian was involved in two partnerships, 29 for the second wicket with K. Varun Kumar and 23 for the third wicket with skipper B. Indrajith, which helped keep the required run-rate under control. Akkil Srinaath, who came in at the fall of Subramanian, launched an all-out attack smashing an unbeaten 38 off 19 balls, which included two fours and four sixes, as Warriors won with 2.3 overs to spare.

Earlier, Giants, opting to bat, scored 135 for nine. It lost opener K.B. Arun Karthick in the first over caught by Shahrukh Khan off M. Prabhu. In fact, Indrajith had dropped S. Thiyagarajan, the other opener, at first slip off the second ball of the match.

Skipper P. Shijit Chandran (53, 37b, 5x4, 2x6) joined Thiyagarajan and they put on 36 off 30 balls for the second wicket. Thiyagarajan, who got another reprieve on 14 off Prabhu, was dismissed by J. Kaushik for 23. Chandran, who continued to attack, added 51 off 38 balls with S. Suresh Kumar before being caught at long-off by R. Nilesh Subramanian off A.C. Prathiban with the score at 88 for three in 12.1 overs.

After P. Francis Rokins fell cheaply, Suresh and P. Sakthi struck a 30-run fifth-wicket partnership to stabilise the innings. Following the duo’s dismissal in quick succession, Giants lost its way as it managed only 13 runs off the last three overs. Prathiban scalped three wickets for Warriors.

Brief scores: Madurai Super Giants 135 for nine in 20 overs (S. Thiyagarajan 23, P. Shijit Chandran 53, S. Suresh Kumar 28, R. Jesuraj two for 29, A.C. Prathiban three for 28) lost to Ruby Kanchi Warirors 139 for three in 17.3 overs (K. Bharath Shankar 37, R. Nilesh Subramanian 24, B. Indrajith 21 n.o., Akkil Srinaath 38 n.o).