CHENNAI: Nellai Royal Kings’ unbeaten run in TNPL-6 ended in Salem on Saturday night when they lost to Kovai Kings by 5 runs. Batting first, Kovai notched up 177-4 riding opener Suresh Kumar’s 48-ball 75. Kovai bowlers then withstood Sanjay Yadav’s 31-ball 54 thanks to M Shahrukh Khan’s (2-8) brilliant last over — where he gave away only 3 runs and took two wickets — as Nellai finished on 172-9.
Chasing 178, Nellai opener L Suryapprakash (45) and No. 3 B Aparajith (37, 2×4, 2×6) laid the foundation with a 69-run stand for the second wicket. Once the two got out, left-hander Sanjay Yadav and G Ajitesh (5-ball 17) added 39 runs in 1.5 overs for the fifth wicket to keep Nellai in the hunt. When Ajitesh got out, Nellai needed 20 from the last 13 balls. The equation boiled down to Nellai needing 9 off the last over. Shahrukh Khan kept his calm to dismiss in-form Sanjay – caught by keeper Suresh Kumar — off the second ball and then accounted for Athisayaraj Davidson (0) in the fourth ball and made sure Kovai finished on a high.
The first half of play saw Kovai openers Suresh Kumar (75, 7×4, 3×6) and Ganga Sridhar Raju (48, 4×4, 1×6) in full flow. The duo got off the blocks in a sedate manner scoring at only 5.25 runs for the first four overs. But they soon opened up and took Kovai to 76-0 at the halfway mark. Suresh crossed the 50-run mark—off 35 deliveries — in the 12th over. Suresh was his fluent self as he scored runs all-round the wicket. Ganga was happy playing the second fiddle. The opening-wicket pair added 117 runs in 14 overs before Ganga was cleaned up by left-arm pacer Sri Neranjan (1-21).
After Suresh departed in the 17th over, left-hander Sai Sudharsan (18-ball 35) played his part to help Kovai end with a strong total.
Brief scores: Lyca Kovai Kings 177-4 in 20 overs (Suresh Kumar 75, Ganga Sridhar 48, Sai Sudharsan 35). Nellai Royal Kings 172-9 in 20 overs (Sanjay Yadav 54, L Suryapprakash 45, B Aparajith 37; Divakar 3-40, M Shahrukh Khan 2-8). Kovai won by 5 runs.
Chasing 178, Nellai opener L Suryapprakash (45) and No. 3 B Aparajith (37, 2×4, 2×6) laid the foundation with a 69-run stand for the second wicket. Once the two got out, left-hander Sanjay Yadav and G Ajitesh (5-ball 17) added 39 runs in 1.5 overs for the fifth wicket to keep Nellai in the hunt. When Ajitesh got out, Nellai needed 20 from the last 13 balls. The equation boiled down to Nellai needing 9 off the last over. Shahrukh Khan kept his calm to dismiss in-form Sanjay – caught by keeper Suresh Kumar — off the second ball and then accounted for Athisayaraj Davidson (0) in the fourth ball and made sure Kovai finished on a high.
The first half of play saw Kovai openers Suresh Kumar (75, 7×4, 3×6) and Ganga Sridhar Raju (48, 4×4, 1×6) in full flow. The duo got off the blocks in a sedate manner scoring at only 5.25 runs for the first four overs. But they soon opened up and took Kovai to 76-0 at the halfway mark. Suresh crossed the 50-run mark—off 35 deliveries — in the 12th over. Suresh was his fluent self as he scored runs all-round the wicket. Ganga was happy playing the second fiddle. The opening-wicket pair added 117 runs in 14 overs before Ganga was cleaned up by left-arm pacer Sri Neranjan (1-21).
After Suresh departed in the 17th over, left-hander Sai Sudharsan (18-ball 35) played his part to help Kovai end with a strong total.
Brief scores: Lyca Kovai Kings 177-4 in 20 overs (Suresh Kumar 75, Ganga Sridhar 48, Sai Sudharsan 35). Nellai Royal Kings 172-9 in 20 overs (Sanjay Yadav 54, L Suryapprakash 45, B Aparajith 37; Divakar 3-40, M Shahrukh Khan 2-8). Kovai won by 5 runs.