Left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore’s high-five seals it for Super Gillies

Left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore spun a web (4-0-13-5) on Kaaraikudi Kaalai as Chepauk Super Gillies won by six wickets in a Tamil Nadu Premier League match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Friday.

The Karaikudi batsmen were left wanting for answers and could only muster a modest 110/9 in 20 overs before Super Gillies overhauled the target in 14.5 overs, losing four wickets.

Chepauk started on a bright note by removing Vishal Vaidhya (1), S Badrinath (0) and R Srinivasan (3) in the first five overs. Jolted by the triple-strike Karaikudi found the going tough but crawled back into the match when S Lokeshwar and M Shahjahan adding 45 runs in 44 balls for the fourth wicket.

A damp Friday evening didn’t dampen CSG’s spirits as Kishore meant business right from the word go. Srinivasan was his first victim when he induced the batsman to play a little early to take an easy return catch.

A miscued shot by Shahjahan ended the 45-run partnership as U Sasidev took an easy catch running in from backward point.

Sai Kishore struck twice in the 15th over to swing the match to CSG’s way. He first removed the well set Lokeshwar when the batsman found Sasidev at backward point. V Chkaravathi couldn’t read a straighter one and was caught infront and Karaikudi lost their last five wickets for 12 runs.

In reply, Super Gillies was jolted when Thalaivan Sargunam (0) and S Karthik (6) departed to leave it reeling at 26/2 but a 24-run partnership in 21 balls between KH Gopinath and U Sasidev put CSG on track.

Once Sasidev departed, Vasanth Saravanan and Sathish, in the company of Gopinath, sealed the match in CSG’s favour in the 15th over.

Brief scores: Karaikudi Kaalai 110/9 in 20 overs (S Lokeshwar 48, R Sai Kishore 5/13) lost to Chepauk Super Gillies 113/4 in 14.5 overs (KH Gopinath 45*, R Sathish 26*).