Rithik’s late blitz earns Nellai Royal Kings a two-wicket TNPL win in Dindigul

S. Rithik Easwaran struck two sixes in the final over to guide Nellai Royal Kings to a two-wicket victory over Vida Kovai Kings at the NPR College Ground in Dindigul on Thursday in a Tamil Nadu Premier League match. The finish came after play was briefly interrupted by rain.

Play was briefly suspended by rain, but once it resumed Rithik produced a match-defining knock, helping Nellai recover from a mid-innings wobble to chase down 163. He scored 69 off 31 balls (4x4, 6x6) as the Royal Kings ended the game with one ball to spare. The successful chase followed a period in which the top order struggled to build a substantial platform.

Vida Kovai’s left-arm spinner M. Siddharth struck in the second over to dismiss Santhosh Kumar, and Deeban Lingesh removed S.R. Athish in the third as the Royal Kings’ start faltered. G. Ajitesh and U. Mukilesh attempted to rebuild the innings, but Ajitesh was caught off the next delivery after clearing G. Kishoor for a six in the eighth over, breaking a 38-run stand. Mukilesh soon followed, and Jhathavedh Subramanyan then castled debutant Sachin Sre Dev as Nellai slipped to 92 for five.

Deeban Lingesh added further damage with two strikes in the 17th over to leave Nellai under pressure late in the chase. With 17 required off the final over, Rithik launched G. Kishoor for two huge sixes, and Sachin Rathi ran a bye that sealed a dramatic victory with a ball to spare. The win completed a tense finish for the Royal Kings after their middle-order collapse.

Vida Kovai had been held to 162 for 9 in 20 overs, B. Sachin top-scoring with 42, while Emmanuel Cherian, Sachin Rathi and V. Yudheeswaran produced bowling figures of 2/37, 2/30 and 3/25 respectively. For Nellai, Deeban Lingesh returned 3/41 and G. Kishoor took 3/32 during the contest.

In the other match, Shyam Sundar’s unbeaten 104 off 57 balls (8x4, 7x6) anchored Trichy Grand Cholas to a 17-run victory over iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans. Tushar Raheja’s 87, his third half-century of the edition, proved insufficient as Grand Cholas defended 196 for 6 and dismissed Tiruppur for 179 for 8.

The scores: Vida Kovai Kings 162/9 in 20 overs (B. Sachin 42, Emmanuel Cherian 2/37, Sachin Rathi 2/30, V. Yudheeswaran 3/25) lost to Nellai Royal Kings 163/8 in 19.5 overs (S. Rithik Easwaran 69, Deeban Lingesh 3/41, G. Kishoor 3/32).

Trichy Grand Cholas 196/6 in 20 overs (K. Rajkumar 37, Shyam Sundar 104 n.o., T. Natarajan 2/32) bt iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 179/8 in 20 overs (Tushar Raheja 87, Pradosh Ranjan Paul 44, Athisayaraj Davidson 2/24, K. Easwaran 3/24, Sanjay Yadav 2/28).

Friday’s matches: SKM Salem Spartans vs. Dindigul Dragons, 3.30 p.m.; Madurai Panthers vs. Chepauk Super Gillies, 7.30 p.m.