TNPL 2017: Chepauk Super Gillies notch 2nd win

Chennai, July 30: Chepauk Super Gillies registered their second win of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) with a 6-wicket success over LYCA Kovai Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Saturday night (July 29). The Chepauk bowlers restricted Kovai to 146/8 before Thalaivan Sargunam anchored the chase for the winning team.

After opting to bat first, Kovai got off to a confident start with Surya Prakash donning the role of the aggressor. Captain R Sathish once again struck early for the Gillies as he sent back Anirudh Sita Ram.

The partnership between Pradosh Ranjan Paul and Suryaprakash put the Kovai team in a good position, but debutant Joel Joseph put the brakes on the scoring alongside youngster R Alexander, while picking up regular wickets in the process. When Suryaprakash was run out for 46, the Kovai team couldn't get going.

Sai Kishore joined the attack and stemmed the flow of runs and thanks to some brilliant ground fielding by Chepauk, the boundaries dried up as well.

The Kovai middle order didn't disturb the scorers much, inspite of Chepauk's best bowler last year, Antony Dhas, bowling only one over. A late cameo by M Mohammed (26) meant that Kovai finished with 146/8 in 20 overs which didn't seem enough in front of Chepauk's batting line-up.

Chepauk's chase started with a bang with openers Gopinath and Thalaivan Sargunam taking on the Kovai bowlers. Gopinath (37), in particular, was at his aggressive best hitting two huge sixes and finding the boundaries as well.

The captain introduced himself into the attack and things changed quickly. The left arm spinner struck twice in the same over removing the dangerous looking Gopinath with a superb return catch and Sai Kishore, who was sent up the order, with an easy catch to K Vignesh at extra cover.

Thalaivan held fort at one end as U Sasidev accelerated and kept the required rate under control. Chepauk were ahead of Kovai consistently before Sasidev gave a simple catch to Sivakumar at short fine leg off K Vignesh.

Sathish joined Sargunam, who had by now settled down well and was guiding the chase well for Chepauk. Kovai again struck with Sathish's wicket but Saravanan crushed the hopes of Kovai with a four and a six.

Chepauk eventually completed the chase with to an over to spare with Thalaivan completing his half-century in the process.

Brief scores: LYCA Kovai Kings 146/8 in 20 overs (L Suryaprakash 46, 43b, 5x4; M Mohammed 26, 12b, 2x4, 2x6; Joel Joseph 2 for 29, R Sathish 1/18) lost to Chepauk Super Gillies 149/4 in 19 overs (Thalaivan Sargunam 52 not out, 4x4, 1x6; Gopinath 37, 25b, 3x4, 2x6, Syed Mohammad 2/18) by 6 wickets.

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