TNPL: TT triumphs by 51 runs over Salem Spartans

Tirunelveli, July 22:  The IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans delivered a commanding performance to secure a 51-run victory over the SKM Salem Spartans in the second match of the Shriram Capital TNPL 2024 Tirunelveli phase.

Electing to bat first, Tiruppur’s openers Amit Sathvik and Tushar Raheja set the stage for a big score. Sathvik, promoted to open, smashed a quick-fire 50 off 39 balls, anchoring a solid 110-run partnership with Raheja. Despite a couple of wickets falling in quick succession after Sathvik’s departure, Raheja anchored the innings with a powerful 79 off 49 balls, guiding his team to a total of 192/9 in their 20 overs. Raheja’s explosive knock earned him the CAMPA Great Indian Striker of the Match award and maintained his position as the season’s orange cap holder.

The Salem Spartans’ chase began on a rocky note, with early breakthroughs from Tiruppur’s bowlers. P. Bhuvaneswaran dismissed S. Abishiek in the opening over, and T. Natarajan followed up by sending Muhammed Adnan Khan packing in the second over. Mohamed Ali then made his mark, removing Robin Bist and Vivek R, reducing the Spartans to a precarious 22/5 within the powerplay. Ali’s disciplined spell of 3/10 in three overs earned him the Shriram Capital Player of the Match accolade.

Despite a valiant effort from Vishal Vaidhya, who scored 35 runs off 27 balls, and Ravi Rajan’s unbeaten 53* off 39 balls, the Spartans fell short of their target, finishing at 141/8 in their 20 overs.

The result sees Tiruppur Tamizhans climb to sixth place in the points table with two wins from five matches. In contrast, SKM Salem Spartans remain at the bottom, with just one victory from six outings, effectively ending their playoff hopes.

Salem Spartans’ captain Shijit Chandran acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, stating, “We missed opportunities and could have restricted Tiruppur better. Guru Sayee’s performance was a silver lining.”

Tiruppur’s player of the match, Mohamed Ali, praised his teammates, saying, “The batters provided us with a great total to defend. I’m grateful for the consistent support from our captain, Sai Kishore.”

Tiruppur captain Sai Kishore highlighted the key contributions, “Amit and Tushar set a solid foundation. We could have added a few more runs, but overall, it was a great performance.”