TNPL 2021: Chepauk Super Gillies storms into TNPL play-offs

Super Gillies also recorded its fourth win on the trot this season to move to the top of the table with nine points from six matches. Kovai, meanwhile, remains at sixth with five points. Needing 160 to win, Kovai could manage only 123 for nine in the face of a disciplined effort from the Super Gillies bowlers. 

Left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore continues to impress as he picked up two wickets while conceding just 11 runs from his quota. Medium pacer Harish Kumar made his presence felt chipping in with two wickets for 15 runs. 

Earlier, Rajagopal Sathish dug deep into his experience to help Super Gillies post a respectable total. Sathish, the veteran of many battles, put his hand up when it mattered most by smashing 64 off 32 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes) to guide CSG to 159 for seven. 

Chepauk, which was struggling at 44 for four in the ninth over, was spurred by Sathish and Sai Kishore’s (31 off 27 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) partnership of 68 runs off 41 balls. 

The 25-year-old Sai Kishore was content playing second fiddle to the 40-year-old Sathish, whose contribution in the alliance was worth 46. Kovai justified its decision to bowl after captain Shahrukh Khan won the toss when it claimed the top four Chepauk batsmen cheaply. Left-arm spinner N Selva Kumaran (2 for 11) did most of the damage claiming the prized scalps of opener Narayan Jagadeesan (9) and Jaganath Sinivas (7). 

Just when it seemed Kovai was tightening the screws, Sathish broke the shackles. That Chepauk added 115 in 11 overs is an indication of the impact made by Sathish. 

Brief scores: Chepauk Super Gillies 159/7 in 20 overs (R Sai Kishore 31, Rajagopal Sathish 64, N Selva Kumaran 2/11, V Yudheeshwaran 2/39, Abhishek Tanwar 2/26) beat Lyca Kovai Kings 123/9 in 20 overs (Abhishek Tanwar 29, R Sai Kishore 2/11, Harish Kumar 2/15)