Madurai pips Karaikudi in low-scoring thriller

Chasing 94, R Mithun (7 not out) and Kiran Akash (18 not out) added 24 runs for the unbroken ninth-wicket stand as Madurai (10 points) won with 11 balls to spare. The scoreboard read 73 for eight before the tail enders guided their side home with a match-winning partnership. Captain Shijit Chandran scored a run-a-ball 25, ending up as his side’s best batsman. Sunil Sam (2/21), S Mohan Prasath (2/23) and Maan Bafna (2/20) kept Kaaraikudi in the hunt but could not finish the job.

Kaalai ended its TNPL 4 campaign with just a solitary triumph. Earlier, Kiran (3/23), Rahil Shah (3/13) and Selva Kumaran (2/17) came up with brilliant bowling efforts to skittle out Karaikudi for a paltry 93 in 20 overs. The Kaalai batters had a horror outing as none of them managed to get past the 15-run mark. Opener V Aaditya and wicketkeeper S Ganesh top-scored with 14 runs each.

Brief scores: Karaikudi Kaalai 93 all-out in 20 overs (Kiran Akash 3/23, Rahil Shah 3/13) vs Madurai Panthers 97 for 8 in 18.1 overs.