Rain cancels TNPL Qualifier 1 at MA Chidambaram; Madurai Panthers advance to final

Madurai Panthers progressed to the Tamil Nadu Premier League final after Qualifier 1 between Madurai Panthers and Trichy Grand Cholas at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday was abandoned because of rain.

Both teams finished the league stage on 10 points, but Madurai held a superior Net Run Rate of 0.548 compared with Trichy’s 0.095. The Panthers, who won the title in 2018, had leapfrogged Grand Cholas in the standings following a 72-run victory over Nellai Royal Kings in their last league match on Saturday. The side is led by B. Anirudh Sita Ram.

Madurai elected to field for the evening encounter. Only 2.5 overs were possible before the first interruption, with Trichy Grand Cholas on 25 for one at that stoppage. Play resumed roughly two hours later and two additional overs were completed. A second rain interruption then halted the contest.

The match was called off after those two interruptions, with Trichy Grand Cholas 49/1 in 4.5 overs (K. Rajkumar 38 n.o.). No further play was possible after the second stoppage, leaving the game without a result.

Monday’s Eliminator is scheduled between Vida Kovai Kings and iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans at 7.30 p.m. Madurai Panthers are set to appear in the summit clash on Friday.