Chennai Aug 25:
VIDA Kovai Kings advanced to Qualifier 2 of the Tamil Nadu Premier League after rain disrupted the Eliminator between the Kings and iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, bringing another weather-affected match in the tournament to an early conclusion.
The match had already been reduced to 16 overs per side because of rain. Kovai Kings made the most of their opportunity, posting an imposing 171 for three. Shahrukh Khan produced the standout performance with a blistering 59 off just 18 balls, providing the acceleration that pushed Kovai to a formidable total.
S Radhakrishnan and Suresh Lokeshwar also contributed at the top of the order, scoring 24 and 31 respectively, before the middle order took advantage of the shortened contest. Kovai’s total left Tiruppur Tamizhans facing a steep challenge in a match already affected by the weather.
However, further rain prevented the contest from progressing as planned. With the Eliminator unable to produce a full result, the tournament regulations came into play and Kovai Kings moved forward to the next stage.
The result sets up a Qualifier 2 clash between VIDA Kovai Kings and Trichy Grand Cholas on August 26, with the winner advancing to the TNPL final.
For Kovai Kings, the result keeps their title hopes alive despite the weather interruptions that have disrupted the knockout phase. They will now have another opportunity to reach the final, while Trichy Grand Cholas will be looking to end their campaign and secure the remaining place in the championship match.