TNPL 2022 | Nellai continue their dream run with a six wicket win over Tiruppur

Nellai Royal Kings continued their dominance in the ongoing edition of the TNPL as they outclassed IDream Tiruppur Tamizhan by six wickets on Sunday, July 10, to register their fifth consecutive victory in the season. 

Winless in five matches thus far, the Baba Indrajith-led side raged over Tiruppur Tamizhans at the SNR College Cricket Ground on the back of spectacular bowling performances from K Easwaran, NS Harish and some destructive batting display by Baba Aparajith.

Chasing a meagre target of 118, the Nellai Royal Kings suffered an early blow as NS Harish, who surprisingly opened the inning for NRK, was knocked over for 7 in the second over. 

Following his dismissal, Laxmesha Suryaprakash allied with Baba Aparajith and put up a 77-run partnership for the second wicket to take their side closer to the target. 

While Suryaprakash smashed 28 runs from as many deliveries, Baba Aparajith wreaked havoc as he took the opposition bowlers to cleaners, smacking 63 runs off 46 balls with the help of six boundaries and two maximums. 

The winning runs eventually came off G Ajitesh's bat, who joined the forces and whacked two deliveries, one for four and another for six, to hunt the target in just 15.3 overs. Among bowlers, M Mohammed and Aswin Crist bagged two wickets each for IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans.

Earlier, Baba Indrajith won the toss and opted to bowl first. NRK bowlers warmly validated his decision as they never allowed the opposition batters to settle down in the middle. 

IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, after putting to bat first, got off to a shambolic start as they sagged to 28/3 in power play. Maan K Bafna then held the nerves and staged a good show with the bat as he played an array of gorgeous strokes.

Bafna played an impactful knock of 35-ball 37 before being apprehended by NS Harish in the 18th over while slogging the delivery. However, the lower order never got going, and IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans were knocked over for 117.

For the table-toppers, K Easwaran was the star performer with the ball, having picked three wickets in as many overs while conceding only 11 runs. 

NS Harish also continued his red hot form, scalping two wickets in his quota of 4 overs. The star all-rounder Sanjay Yadav, Rooban Raj and Baba Aparajith also claimed one wicket each. 

Following this win, Nellai Royal Kings, who are now on a five-match winning streak, maintain their stay at the top spot in the TNPL standings.

IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, on the other hand, succumbed to their second consecutive defeat in the season. With just one win from three matches, they are placed at the second last spot of the points table. 

Brief Score 

IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans: 117/8 (20 Overs) 

Maan K Bafna 37 (35), Tushar Raheja 18 (14)

K Easwaran 3-11 (3), NS Harish 2-24 (4) 

Nellai Royal Kings: 121/4 (15.3 Overs) 

Baba Aparajith 63 (46), Laxmesha Suryaprakash 28 (28)

M Mohammed 2-29 (4), Aswin Crist 2-31 (3.3)  

Nellai Royal Kings won by six wickets.