TNPL 2018: Arun Karthik guides Panthers to victory

Chasing 159 for a win, Madurai had lost the first four wickets for 56 runs but Karthik stayed put and hit ten fours and two sixes in his 50-ball knock. 

Madurai lost a wicket in the first over as D Rohit got out to Yo Mahesh. When Mohan Prasath dismissed Nilesh Subramaniam in the fourth over, Madurai struggled to 27 for two and an over later, Thalaivan Sargunam fell to Maan Bafna. Madurai further slumped to 56 for four as Karthikeyan got out to Rajkumar in the seventh over. Shijit Chandran (38) made a useful contribution to Madurai’s cause. 

Earlier, Aditya and Anirudha Srikkanth took time to settle down but they did not lose a wicket in the first five overs. In fact, Anirudha was slow to get into his rhythm. Aditya missed a ball from Kiran Akash as he shaped for a heave over mid-wicket in the sixth over and was bowled. Aditya had hit five fours in his 16-ball 26.

Karaikudi did not lose another wicket in the next five overs and when it did, it actually lost two in quick succession. Maan Bafna fell to J Kousik as he holed out to long-on where Shijit Chandran took a comfortable catch. 

The ball had bounced extra as Bafna went for a big shot. 

Three balls later, Karaikudi lost Shahjahan bowled by Chakaravathi for 1 to slip to 84 for three in 11.3 overs. J Kousik ended the innings of Anirudha, who went for an early drive outside the off-stump, the ball took an outside edge and flew to Chakravathi at backward point. Anirudha’s 43-ball 48 had three fours and two sixes. At that stage, Karaikudi was 104 for four. 

New batsman Rajkumar started with a six and a four off the first two balls off Kousik and lifted the run rate. But his cameo of 20 off nine balls came to an end when Kiran Akash had him caught by Kousik. R Srinivasan made 23 off 20 balls to take Karaikudi to 158. 

BRIEF SCORES: Karaikudi Kaalai 158 all out in 20 overs (Anirudha Srikkath 48, Varun Chakravathi 2/16) lost to Madurai Panthers 162 for six in 18.2 overs (Arun Karthik 85 not out, Shijit Chandran 38)