Chepauk Super Gillies storm into Final

After its bowlers restricted Lyca to 136 for nine, CSG reached 90 for one in 11 overs when rain stopped the match. Chepauk Super Gillies will meet Tuti Patriots in the final for the second consecutive time.

Lyca, electing to bat, was slow to start as the first four overs yielded only 16 runs and it also lost opener Surya Prakash, who fell to left-arm spinner Sai Kishore. 

In fact, the Super Gillies went into this match with three left-arm spinners. Apart from Sai Kishore, it also had Alexander and Arun Kumar. The wicket assisted the spinners somewhat and a couple of deliveries by Sai Kishore even bounced more than the batsmen expected.

Anirudh Sita Ram, who hit Alexander in the leftarm spinner’s first over, fell in his second, flicking a ball straight to Gopinath at short mid-wicket.  Captain M Vijay seemed to get his eye in but after having played cautiously for his 24 off 21 balls, he stepped out to Alexander, missed the line and was stumped by Karthik. 

Chepauk Super Gillies was over the moon when Rohith, who scored the fastest 100 in TNPL in the last match, tried to glide one from Sai Kishore, missed contact and was bowled.

M Mohammed made 30 off 25 balls with three fours and two sixes before he was caught in the deep. 

Rain came to halt the proceedings at 96 for six but it did not last long. 

However, Lyca scored quick runs when it came back as Harish Kumarstruck 32 off 19 balls towards the end before he was run out. 

Sai Kishore, Alexander and Antony Dhas took two wickets each. The Chepauk Super Gillies started its chase in right earnest with KH Gopinath stroking three boundaries in the first over before chasing a wide ball off the fifth ball bowled by Vignesh. 

However, Thalaivan and Karthik kept their cool and scored at a fast clip too to end the Powerplay at 57 for one in six overs. 

Thalaivan and Karthik had the scoring rate in control as Chepauk Super Gillies reached 82 for one in the 10th over. M Vijay tried everything to break the partnership including bringing himself on but the Super Gillies looked unruffled. 

Karthik was in full cry as the Super Gillies moved close to the 100-mark. He hit Sivakumar for a huge six over mid-on and then rain came for a second time.

Brief Scores: Lyca Kovai Kings 136/9 in 20 overs (M Mohammed 30, M Vijay 24, Harish Kumar 32, Sai Kishore 2/16, Alexander 2/25, Antony Dhas 2/27) Chepauk Super Gillies 90/1 in 11 overs (Thalaivan Sargunam 33 n.o., Karthik 38 n.o.)