TNPL 2018: Tuti Patriots Thump Lyca Kovai Kings by 11 runs

Tuti Patriots registered their second win in the ongoing edition third of Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Jones Tuti Patriots registered an emphatic victory as they beat Lyca Kovai Kings by 11 runs at the NPR college ground in Natham in Dindigul.

While batting first, the Patriots posted 182 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 allotted overs. The opening pair for Patriots provided a fine opening partnership of 89 runs.

However, as soon as Kaushik Gandhi lost his wicket after scoring 43 off 25 balls, Patriots went through a middle-order slump. Gandhi was the only batsmen of Patriots who managed to enter into double figures with S Dinesh as the top run-scorer.

Dinesh scored 59 off 42 balls. Chasing a score of 183, Kovai went through a slow start as their skipper and opening batsman, Abhinav Mukund was struggling to find gaps.

They lost the wicket of M Shahrukh Khan for 23 before Mukund’s stay at the crease came to an end for a 23-ball 21.

Antony Dhas and Akkil Srinaath tried to keep an eye on the run-rate however, they were not successful for a longer period.

Rohith Ravikumar (25 off 11 balls) and MP Rajesh (21 off 13) provided fine cameos at the end. However, that was not enough. Tuti restricted Kovai to 171 for eight to hand Tuti much-needed points.

Who said what:

“Natarajan is known for his death bowling. 180 was 20 runs below par. Still stand by it, very hard ground to defend. Athisayaraj bowled well in the end, but we were still in it till the final stages. Disappointed to lose, too early to talk about NRR. This is a game which we should’ve won.” – Abhinav Mukund, Lyca Kovai Kings’ skipper said.

 

“Important for us to get this win. Would’ve been a tricky situation if we had not got points. Last five overs of both innings we faltered. Was disappointed with the way I got out. I look to bat to the 17-18 overs. If I or Dinesh had stayed till the end, we would’ve got the extra 20 runs. Still, have to tick all the boxes.” – Kaushik Gandhi, for Tuti Patriots asserted.