Tushar Raheja captaincy debut helps Tamizhans beat Panthers at MAC Stadium

Tushar Raheja made his captaincy debut as iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans defeated Madurai Panthers by four wickets at the MAC Stadium in a TNPL-10 match on Thursday. Pradosh Ranjan Paul finished unbeaten on 65 to steer Tamizhans to 160/6.

On his captaincy debut, Tushar Raheja scored 48 (17b, 7x6), stroking five sixes off Rohan Bhutra in the fifth over to propel Tamizhans to 81 for two in six overs. The southpaw’s early assault set up the chase before Panthers’ bowlers fought back mid-innings.

Shoaib Mohammed Khan produced the principal Panthers response with figures of four for 21, striking three times in two overs to reduce Tamizhans to 91 for five in nine overs. That spell curtailed the momentum created in the PowerPlay and left the chase in the balance.

Pradosh Ranjan Paul compiled an unbeaten 65 (45b, 8x4, 2x6), rebuilding the innings from the middle and rotating the strike while striking drives through the off-side. He sealed the victory with a hooked six over fine-leg, finishing the chase in the 18th over.

Tamizhans’ left-arm spinners M. Mathivannan (three for 18) and Mohan Prasath (two for 27) earlier dismantled the Panthers’ top order, limiting Madurai to 157 for nine. The Panthers, the 2018 champion, were 76 for seven at one stage before Rohan Bhutra and Atheeq Ur Rahman added 73 for the eighth wicket; Atheeq made 43 and Bhutra 36.

The scores: Madurai Panthers 157/9 in 20 overs (Atheeq Ur Rahman 43, Rohan Bhutra 36, Natarajan 2/48, Mohan Prasath 2/27, Mathivannan 3/18) lost to iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 160/6 in 17.4 overs (Tushar Raheja 48, Pradosh Ranjan Paul 65 n.o., Shoaib Mohammed Khan 4/21).

Friday’s matches are Vida Kovai Kings vs. Dindigul Dragons (3.30 p.m.) and Trichy Grand Cholas vs. Chepauk Super Gillies (7.30 p.m.).

The win was Tamizhans’ fourth of the season and moved them to the top of the table.