Lyca Kovai Kings began their 2018 Sankar Cement-TNPL campaign with a thrilling win over iDream Karaikudi Kaalai via the Super Over at the ICL Sankar Nagar ground in Tirunelveli on Sunday, July 15, after the match ended in a tie.
Batting first in the Super Over, Kovai Kings managed to score 14 runs. Kaalai’s experienced bowler Yo Mahesh dismissed Shahrukh Khan for 4 (2) but Abhinav Mukund and Anthony Dhas played out the remainder of the over.
Kovai Kings expectedly chose experienced left-arm pacer T Natarajan to bowl the Super Over for them. He repaid the faith. Kovai managed to defend the 15 runs as Anirudha Srikkanth and R Kavin struggled to get going and fell short by 6 runs.
Chasing 163 for victory, Kovai Kings were given a flying start by openers Shahrukh Khan (32, 20b, 3×4,2×6) and captain Abhinav Mukund (59, 44b, 8×4).
After Mukund’s dismissal, Karaikudi Kaalai tried their best to sneak back into the game but the partnership between Dhas and Ashwin V kept Kovai Kings on track.
Kovai Kings then lost three wickets in the last nine balls and eventually, the match was decided by the super over.
Earlier, Karaikudi Kaalai’s Maan K Bafna, batting at No 3, hit a fine 44 44 (22b, 2×4, 4×6) to put the side on track to a good total. However, they managed only 46 runs in the last six overs to finish at 162.
Leg-spinner Prasanth Rajesh picked up three wickets and Dhas took two. Natarajan went wicketless but conceded just 19 runs in his four overs.
Brief scores:
iDream Karaikudi Kaalai 162/7 in 20 overs (Maan Bafna 44, Aaditya V 36, Rajesh M P 3-22, Antony Dhas 2-47) vs Lyca Kovai Kings 162/6 in 20 overs (Abhinav Mukund 59, Ashwin Venkataraman 34, Shahrukh Khan 32, Yo Mahesh 2/30, Swaminathan 2/36) match tied. Lyca Kovai Kings won via the Super Over.
AWARDS
‘Sankar Cement’ Maximum Sixes Award: Maan K Bafna (iDream Karaikudi Kaalai)
‘Krishna Mines Super White Super Fours’ Award: Abhinav Mukund (Lyca Kovai Kings)
‘Equitas Funtastic’ Player of the Match: Maan K Bafna (iDream Karaikudi Kaalai)
‘Sprite Most Refreshing Player’ Award: M P Rajesh (Lyca Kovai Kings)
‘Sankar Cement Man of the Match’ Award: Abhinav Mukund (Lyca Kovai Kings)
‘Most number of DOT BALL bowled in the match’ Award: Maan K Bafna / V Yo Mahesh/ S Mohan Prasath (iDream Karaikudi Kaalai)
