Explosive knocks by opener Anirudha Srikkanth and M Shajahan set up iDream Karaikudi Kaalai’s 47-win over defending champions Chepauk Super Gillies in the 2018 Sankar Cement-TNPL at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
Skipper Anirudha struck his second successive fifty (56, 28, 4×4, 4×6) to provide Kaalai a powerful start on opting to bat while left-handed Shajahan complemented the top-order’s effort at the finish with a 20-ball 43 not out that included two fours and four sixes as the team put on a commanding 193/5.
It was Kaalai’s second win in three matches and handed Gillies’ their third defeat in as many outings.
Kaalai raced to 52 in Powerplay that was built on the opening-wicket stand between Anirudha, who suffered a calf injury, and left-hander V Aaditya, the latter falling in the seventh over to off-spinner B Arun.
Anirudha and next man Maan Bafna (31, 23b, 2×4), another left-hander, fired the total to 83 in the ninth over before the skipper fell to Arun, caught at the long-on fence by M Ashwin, who pulled off an impressive catch with a balancing act.
L Suryaprakash’s innings was short-lived but Bafna guided the team to 131 in the 15th over before falling lbw to left-arm spinner R Alexander, who had next man Shajahan caught and bowled but it was a no ball and the free hit resulted in a six.
After adding 87 runs in the middle nine overs, Kaalai put on a further 54 in the death overs with Shajahan on fire.
Gillies lost openers GS Raju and Sunny Singh for 18 but skipper KH Gopinath (47, 38b, 3×4, 2×6) and U Sasidev (23, 19b, 4×4) took the fight to the enemy camp with a stand of 55.
However, Gillies lost three wickets in the space of 14 runs that effectively derailed the chase. M Ashwin remained unbeaten on 33.
Anirudha did not take the field and pacer Yo Mahesh, who bowled impressively, marshalled the side in the skipper’s absence.
Brief scores:
iDream Karaikudi Kaalai 193/5 in 20 overs (S Anirudha 56, M Bafna 31, M Shajahan 43 n.o., B Arun 2-29, S Harish Kumar 2-36) bt Chepauk Super Gillies 146/6 in 20 overs (KH Gopinath 47, M Ashwin 33 n.o.).
AWARDS
‘Sankar Cement’ Maximum Sixes Award: Srikkanth Anirudha , Shajahan M
(iDream Karaikudi Kaalai)
‘Krishna Mines Super White Super Fours’ Award: Srikkanth Anirudha (iDream Karaikudi Kaalai / Sasidev U Chepauk Super Gillies)
‘Equitas Funtastic’ Player of the Match: Shajahan M (iDream Karaikudi Kaalai )
‘Sprite Most Refreshing Player’ Award: KH Gopinath (Chepauk Super Gillies)
‘Sankar Cement Man of the Match’ Award: Srikkanth Anirudha (iDream Karaikudi Kaalai)
‘Most number of DOT BALL bowled in the match’ Award: Mohan Prasath (iDream Karaikudi Kaalai)
