DINDIGUL: Opener S Sujay’s 48(39) runs and M Shahrukh Khan’s 50(18) runs guided Lyca Kovai Kings to a thrilling one-wicket victory over SKM Salem Spartans in the first match of Saturday’s doubleheader.

After being asked to bat first, the Salem Spartans got off to a solid start, with openers S Abishiek and Vishal Vaidhya adding 61 runs for the first wicket. However, their departure within two overs allowed Kovai to claw its way back into the game.

Jhathavedh Subramanyan played a key role in the middle overs, finishing with impressive figures of 2/16 and maintaining tight control. Despite his efforts, cameos from Vivek Raj and Harish Kumar helped Salem reach a competitive total of 171 for 4.

Vivek Raj scored a brisk 43 off 30 balls, while Harish Kumar remained unbeaten with a quickfire 42 from just 19 deliveries. Manimaran Siddharth also made a notable contribution with the ball, claiming 1/19 from his four overs.

In response, the Kovai Kings enjoyed substantial contributions from its top order. Six out of seven players scored in double digits, making the chase more manageable at the start. Opener Sujay led the way with a steady 48 off 39 balls. However, his unfortunate run-out added some pressure on the defending champion.

As the match progressed, Shahrukh Khan, despite being under pressure, played his natural game, scoring the fastest fifty of the season in just 17 balls.

While the chase was progressing smoothly for the Kovai Kings, M Poiyamozhi managed to swing the momentum back in favour of the Salem Spartans by dismissing Shahrukh Khan. This crucial breakthrough led to a sudden flurry of wickets. Suddenly, the pressure mounted on Kovai, leaving it needing just three runs from the final over with only two wickets.

Brief scores: SKM Salem Spartans 171/4 in 20 overs (R Vivek 43, Harish Kumar 42*) lost to Lyca Kovai Kings 175/9 in 20 overs (M Shahrukh Khan 50, S Sujay 48, M Poiyamozhi 4/28)