TNPL 2021: Match 25, Review: Vivek helps Dindigul Dragons book playoff spot

Chennai, August 7: Vivek Rajendran scripted a thrilling turnaround for Dindigul Dragons against iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans and helped them qualify for the Playoffs in the Shriram Capital TNPL at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Saturday.

The all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 57 runs off 28 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes) to help Dindigul get past Tiruppur’s target of 146 with three overs to spare. They finished on 147-4 to notch a six-wicket win that helped them end the league on a high. They finished with eight points from seven matches.

Chasing a tricky target, Dindigul were in trouble at 65-4 in the 10th over but Vivek in the company of Mokit Hariharan (21 not out off 20 balls, 1 four) took the rival attack to the sword with a 77-run unbroken partnership off 46 balls for the fifth wicket.

Vivek guides his team through

Vivek also achieved a rare hit, when one of his sixes struck the giant BKT Tire placed near the boundary.

Captain C Hari Nishaanth (33 off 25 balls, 1 four, 3 sixes) and Mani Bharathy (24 off 21 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) had set up things nicely with a 54-run alliance in 39 balls for the second wicket but pacer Alliraj Karippusamy put Tiruppur back in the contest by claiming two wickets in two overs.

However, the 30-year-old Vivek saved the blushes for Dindigul to thwart Tiruppur’s plans.

In fact, the all-rounder from Salem was confident of helping his team get through. “I told the team that I will score big and win the game today. I also said I will be Man of the Match,” he said, adding, “I didn’t think about much, just ensured that I stayed not out till the end and if that happened, I knew we would win. I did that and that’s why we won with 3 overs to spare.”

Maan Baafna plays a handy knock

Earlier, opener S Siddharth (36 off 27 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) and Maan Baafna (52 off 50 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) played lead roles to help the side post 145-7 in 20 overs. Their alliance of 50 off 42 balls for the third wicket was the best of the innings.

Baafna, who was central to Tiruppur’s total, was also involved in a 49-run stand for the fourth wicket with all-rounder Francis Rokins (14 off 21 balls).

Fast bowler Rangaraj Suthesh (2-16), left-arm spinner M Silambarasan (1-23) were the top bowlers for Tiruppur.

Brief scores

IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 145-7 in 20 overs (Maan Bafna 52, S Siddharth 36, M Mohammed 19; R Suthesh 2-16, M Silambarasan 1-23, R Vivek 1-23) lost to Dindigul Dragons 147-4 in 17 overs (R Vivek 57*, C Hari Nishaanth 33, Mani Bharathy 24; A Karuppusamy 2-33, Aswin Crist 1-22, Mohan Prasath 1-18) by 6 wickets.