TNPL 3, Match 1 Review: Ruby Trichy Warriors win the last-over thriller against Dindigul Dragons

Ruby Trichy Warriors defeated Dindigul Dragons in the inaugural match of the third edition of the Sankar Cement-Tamil Nadu Premier League played at the ICL Sankar Nagar ground in Tirunelveli on Wednesday (July 11). Warriors batsman Suresh Kumar sealed a memorable chase with a six on the penultimate ball of the match.

Dragons captain Ravichandran Ashwin won the toss and opted to bat on a fresh pitch. Dragons side included 18-year-old medium-pacer bowler Trilok Nag H. Ruby Trichy Warriors relied on their experienced players.

Set a tall target of 173, Warriors began aggressively. They lost the captain B. Indrajith early but Bharath Shankar ensured the flow of runs. The Trichy team completed raced to 50 in Powerplay but slowed down once the field restrictions were lifted.

In a bid to match the required run-rate, Warriors four wickets to collapse to 87/5 from a healthy 75/1. Needing an improbable 86 runs from 43 balls to win, Sonu Yadav and Suresh Kumar launched an impressive onslaught. The explosive partnership of 60 runs from 31 balls brought the Warriors close to an outstanding win.

The march was halted by Ashwin bowling his final over as Yadav 30 (17b,4×4,1×6) was stumped with the Warriors still 26 runs away from a win. Needing 19 runs from the last over, Sanjay MS and Suresh Kumar each slammed a six off M Mohammed to bring the equation down to five runs from two balls. Suresh Kumar then smashed a six over midwicket region to close out the match.

Earlier, Dragons lost opener N Jagadeesan early, bowled by spinner K Vignesh. Hari Nishaanth 41 (27b, 5×4, 1×6), the left-handed opener who survived two chances, made the most of the reprieves. He stitched a 68-run partnership for the second wicket with R Rohit in just 44 balls.

Rohith batted with aggressive intent to provide momentum to the innings with his 46 (30b, 3×4, 3×6). Trichy Warriors wrested back control with the wickets of Nishaanth and Rohith.  Ashwin with his late flourish 42 (28b, 6×4, 1×6) lifted the score to a respectable 172/8. K Vignesh was the most disciplined bowler with figures of 1/20 in his four overs. Lakshminarayanan and Sanjay M.S. snared two wickets each.

Dragons feature in the next match as well in Tirunelveli as they face Siechem Madurai Panthers on July 13. Warriors travel to Chennai to take on Chepauk Super Gillies on July 14.

Brief scores:

Dindigul Dragons 172/8 in 20 overs (Rohith R. 46, 30b, 3×4,3×6, R Ashwin 42, 28b, 6×4, 1×6; Sanjay MS 2/30, Tamil Kumaran D 2/18) lost to Ruby Trichy Warriors 175/6 in 19.5 overs (Suresh Kumar 45*, 24b, 4×4, 3×6, Bharath Shankar 39, 31b, 4×4, 2×6; R Ashwin 2/30) by 4 wickets.

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