TNPL 2018 Final: Arun Karthik and Shijit Chandran guide Madurai Panthers to 7 wicket win against Dindigul Dragons

Chasing 118 for win, Madurai had to overcome a few hiccups in the first over when it was precariously placed at two for three. That was when the battle-hardened KB Arun Karthik 75 not out (50b, 3x4, 4x6) took matters into his own hands and flourished in the company of P Shijit Chandran, who made a vital unbeaten 38 (49b, 3x4, 1x6) to ward off what looked a certain defeat.

The duo was involved in a match-winning 117-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

For Dindigul, spinner M Silambarasan was the lone bright spot who returned impressive figures of three for 23.

Panthers couldn’t have chosen a better stage and occasion to end its worrying string of losses to Dindigul. Right from winning the toss, Madurai played with the verve and searing intensity that was sorely lacking in its rival.

The resemblance was uncanny even though the formats and the playing conditions were vastly different.

Seeing the tearing hurry in which the Dragons batsmen made a procession to the pavilion after being inserted by Madurai, parallels would inevitably be drawn to a similar collapse of the Indian team against England at Lord’s.

Heading into the match, Dragons bore the look of a frightening nemesis to Madurai as the latter failed to win a single match in four attempts.

But in a span of five overs the Panthers from Madurai mauled the much vaunted top-order of the Dragons leaving it badly disfigured at 42 for six in eight overs. Madurai wicketkeeper Arun Karthik, known for his batting prowess, showed he is equally competent with the keeping gloves as he took a couple of brilliant catches flinging himself like an acrobat.

In all, he had a hand in four of the 10 dismissals, and it must be said that Madurai’s fielding was exemplary but for a couple of lapses. Dindigul lost a wicket in each of the first five overs, and Madurai’s fast bowlers, Abhishek Tanwar and Lokesh Raj, reaped the rewards by pitching it in the right area. Didigul captain N Jagadeesan was watching the horror unfold helplessly from the other end and the onus was on him to bring a modicum of respect to the team’s total.

The dangerous R Vivek’s shot selection was questionable as despite being dropped twice in the same over, he failed to take advantage of the largesse and was soon dismissed for 13 by Lokesh, who

finished his spell with three wickets for 31 runs. Tanwar finished with four for 30.

Things looked bleak for Dindigul at 42 for six, but a handy 43-run association for the seventh wicket between Jagadeesan and R Rohit 15 (26b), took the team closer to 100.

Mystery spinner CV Varun accounted for Jagadeesan 51 (44b, 5x4, 1x6) soon after the Dindigul skipper completed his 50. At the time of his dismissal, Jagadeesan contributed half his team’s score. That is indicative of how the other batsmen struggled leaving Jagadeesan do a rebuilding job all by himself. M Mohammed biffed a couple of sixes in the last over but that proved woefully inadequate.

BRIEF SCORES: Dindigul Dragons 117 in 19.5 overs (Narayanan Jagadeesan 51, Abhishek Tanwar 4/30, Lokesh Raj 3/31) lost to Madurai Panthers 119 for three in 17.1 overs (Arun Karthik 75*, Shijit Chandran 38*)