MATCH REPORT
Follow UsSalem Spartans defeated Dindigul Dragons by seven wickets in Match 6 of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2024 in Salem. Dindigul Dragons opted to bat first amidst challenging windy conditions that initially favoured the pacers. Their innings got off to a shaky start as Shivam Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin fell early within the powerplay overs, increasing the pressure on the batting side.
Despite early setbacks, Vimal Khumar's 47 off 32 and Baba Indrajith's 51 off 34 played a pivotal role in the Dindigul Dragons' recovery. The duo added 64 runs for the third wicket, getting the team to a competitive 149.
Harish Kumar and Sunny Sandhu were particularly effective for the Spartans, claiming two wickets each to dent Dindigul's batting lineup. Additionally, Poiyamozhi and Aushik Srinivas contributed with one wicket each.
Chasing 150 to secure their maiden victory of the season, the Spartans made a solid start with openers S Abishiek and R Kavin putting on 59 runs together. After Abishiek departed for 28 off 26 balls, Rajendran Vivek was promoted up the order as a pinch hitter. The tactical move worked wonders. He and Kavin shifted to a more aggressive approach. Vivek showcased his boundary-hitting prowess as usual, while Kavin provided crucial support at the other end.
Kavin, the current orange cap holder of TNPL 2024, was eventually dismissed after a brisk 46 runs from 34 deliveries. Vivek's innings also received a stroke of luck when Shivam Singh dropped a straightforward catch while Vivek was batting at 42.
Vivek (51* off 28 balls) continued to dominate the Dragons bowlers, eventually chasing the target in the 19th over. Losing captain, Ashwin said, "I felt like the wicket suited Salem's style more. We were 20 runs short, I also felt that the wicket behaved differently in the second half. If we had taken Vivek's wicket early, the match would have gone closer."
The player of the match, Vivek, said, "I wanted to win the match before my crowd for the team in the last game as well. Unfortunately, we couldn't. I'm glad that today, we crossed the line. I want to thank the people who have come all the way to support me."
The winning captain, Shijit Chandran, said, "I'm glad about the win, but we still have a lot of things to work on. While bowling, we knew the ball was not coming onto the bat and wanted to keep things simple. We knew if Vivek Raj gets going, nobody can stop him. It is the main reason why we sent him up the order."
Brief scores:
Dindigul Dragons 149/9 in 20 overs (Baba Indrajith 51, Vimal Khumar 47;Sunny Sandhu 2/23) lost to Salem Spartans 150/3 in 18.1 overs (Rajendran Vivek 51*, R Kavin 46; P Vignesh 1/23) by 7 wickets.
Player of the Match: Rajendran Vivek
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