Rain washes out Eliminator as Vida Kovai Kings advance to TNPL Qualifier 2

Vida Kovai Kings progressed to Qualifier 2 of the Tamil Nadu Premier League after their Eliminator against iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans was abandoned because of rain at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday.

Both teams finished the league stage level on eight points, with Kovai Kings placed third and Tamizhans fourth; Kovai advanced by virtue of a superior Net Run Rate of 1.638 compared with Tamizhans’ -0.013. The tie had been set up as an intriguing contest given Kovai’s bowling resources and the Tamizhans’ explosive opening pair.

Kovai’s bowling attack included left-arm spinner M. Siddharth (nine wickets at 5.46) and leg-spinner Jhathavedh Subramanyan (13 wickets at 6.29), the two most economical bowlers in the tournament as reported. The pace unit featured Deeban Lingesh with 12 wickets and G. Kishoor with 10, figures that contributed to Kovai’s standing going into the Eliminator.

iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans arrived with two of the competition’s quickest-scoring batters, Amith Sathvik (striking at 212.74) and left-hander Tushar Raheja (193.08), placing emphasis on their power at the top of the order. Despite that form, the Tamizhans began unusually cautiously when sent in to bat in Chennai.

Tamizhans reached 15 without loss in three overs before heavy showers halted play, with groundsmen kept busy as conditions deteriorated. Deeban, bowling with the wicketkeeper standing up to the stumps, and Siddharth were noted for keeping things tight during that brief period of play.

The official scorebook recorded iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 15/0 in three overs against Vida Kovai Kings before the match was called off due to rain. With no further play possible, Kovai Kings moved on to the next stage under the tournament rules.

Qualifer 2 is scheduled for Wednesday, when Trichy Grand Cholas will face Vida Kovai Kings at 7.30 p.m.