TNPL 2019, Match 17: Tuti Patriots Siva sizzles in big win over iDream Karaikudi Kaalai

Tuti Patriots rode on their captain Venkataramanan Subramania Siva’s best knock in the Sankar Cement Tamil Nadu Twenty20 Premier League to register a 57-run victory over iDream Karaikudi Kaalai at the NPR College ground here on Thursday.

It was TP’s second win in five matches, which keeps them in contention for a playoff spot. iDKK’s aspirations, however, hangs by a thread after crashing to their fourth defeat on the trot.

Siva, who had dropped down the order after a poor run in the last two matches (1 & 3), smashed 87 not out off just 40 balls (10 fours, 5 sixes) to power TP to a strong total of 175-4 in 20 overs. His bowlers then restricted iDKK for 118-8 in 20 overs.

Siva’s unbeaten innings was also his best in the league improving upon his 84 not out for Dindigul Dragons against Madurai Super Giants in 2016, which came at the same ground.

The 35-year-old captain’s brilliance helped TP collect 113 runs in the last 10 overs after they struggled to 62-4 in the first half. He was also involved in a 113-run unbroken alliance off 59 balls with A Venkatesh (30 not out off 26 balls, 3 fours).

The last two overs were the most productive for TP as 40 runs came off it. Siva went berserk in the 19th over bowled by fast bowler Sunil Sam, carting three sixes and two boundaries. It was the most expensive over of the season with 28 runs coming off it. It was also the second most expensive over in TNPL history behind iDKK left-arm spinner S Mohan Prasath’s 32 runs conceded against Dindigul Dragons in his last over (4-0-50-0) at the India Cements Limited-Sankar Nagar ground in Tirunelveli last year.

iDKK hopes of overhauling TP’s total rested on their captain Aniruda Srikkanth (5 off 10 balls) but he chased a wide Athisayaraj Davidson delivery to present a tame catch to the third man. With their top batsman out in the 3rd over, iDKK’s chances reduced dramatically as they struggled to 22-2 at the Powerplay. It was the second lowest Powerplay score of the league and the lowest of the season. The lowest Powerplay score of 19-2 is by the same team against the same opponent at the ICL-Sankar Nagar ground in 2016.

Opener Laxmesha Surya Prakash (31 off 30 balls, 3 fours, 1 six), Rajhamany Srinivasan (21 off 19 balls) and RD Ashwin Kumar (30 not out off 14 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) helped iDKK go past the hundred-mark but did not have any impact on the outcome of the match.

A Venkatesh returned to torment iDKK by claiming two wickets with his leg-spin. The medium-pace of Sivagnanan Senthilnathan created a bigger impression by claiming two wickets for 20 runs in his four overs.

Earlier, Siva’s decision to bat first appeared to have gone awry as both TP openers Murugan Kamalesh (2) and Akshay Srinivasan (9) were back in the pavilion by the fourth over with just 16 runs on the board.

Left-hander Nidhish Rajagopal (34 off 28 balls, 6 fours) steadied the ship before he pulled a short ball from medium-pacer R Rajkumar straight into deep midwicket’s hands. It brought Siva to the crease and thereafter it was Tuti Patriots all the way.

The only opportunity to break the Siva-Venkatesh alliance came iDKK’s way in the 17th over when Venkatesh mistimed a pull shot off pacer RD Ashwin Kumar but Aniruda running backwards from mid-wicket spilled it. The batsman was 27 and TP score 112-4.

In search of their first win after three successive defeats, iDKK made four changes to the team that played against Dindigul Dragons. Wicketkeeper S Ganesh, top-order batsman V Aaditya and all-rounders Ashwath Mukunthan and S Kishan Kumar were included in place of Dinesh Karthik, M Shajahan, S Mohan Prasath and V Lakshman.

iDream Karaikudi Kaalai play their next match against Lyca Kovai Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Sunday (August 4) while Tuti Patriots stay put here to face Ruby Trichy Warriors on Tuesday (August 6).

Brief scores:

Tuti Patriots 175-4 in 20 overs (Nidhish Rajagopal 34, A Venkatesh 30 not out, V Subramania Siva 87 not out; Ashwath Mukunthan 1-25, S Kishan Kumar 1-15) beat iDream Karaikudi Kaalai 118-8 in 20 overs (Laxmesha Surya Prakash 31, Rajhamany Srinivasan 21, RD Ashwin Kumar 30 not out; Tamil Kumaran 2-31, Sivagnanan Senthilnathan 2-20, A Venkatesh 2-29).

Toss: TP, opt to bat

Debutant: S Ganesh (iDKK)

Points:Tuti Patriots 2; iDream Karaikudi Kaalai 0

Umpires:MG Saidarshan Kumar, GS Anantharamakrishnan.TV umpire: MM Srinivasarangan. Match referee:Arjan Kripal Singh.

MATCH AWARDS:

Sankar Cement Man of the Match: V Subramania Siva (TP)

Sankar Cement Maximum 6s: V Subramania Siva (TP)

TCM-Nippon Paint Atom Best All-rounder: A Venkatesh (TP)

SNJ VSOP Adhiradhi Four: V Subramania Siva (TP)

BKT Tyres Commander of the Match: V Subramania Siva (TP)

Sprite Juicy+ Refreshing Player: Nidhish Rajagopal (TP)

TVS Most Valuable Player of the Match: A Venkatesh (TP)

Sharon Ply Strong Performer of the Match: Maan K Bafna (iDKK)