TNPL 2022 | Ruby Trichy Warriors register 4-run victory over struggling Spartans via DLS method

Skipper Rahil Shah and debutant Atheeq Ur Rahman led a clinical bowling performance on a tricky turning track as Ruby Trichy Warriors cantered to a 4-run victory (via DLS method) over depleted Salem Spartans in the rain-affected fixture on Thursday, July 21. 

The bowling attack of Ruby Trichy Warriors' was on song against the Murugan Ashwin-led side as their batters kept making terrible shot selections to eventually bundle out for just 87 runs in 19.5 overs, the lowest total registered by Spartans in the tournament so far. 

The Rahil Shah-led outfit, in reply, was off to a decent start with both the openers Amith Sathvik and Santosh Shiv stitching a 24-run stand for the opening wicket. While Sathvik remained unbeaten for 17-ball 15, Santosh Shiv scored 8 runs from as many balls. 

The Trichy Warriors' scoreboard read 26/2 off five overs when rain halted the play. This persistent rain didn't give any further opportunity for the match officials to field the players, and when the umpires decided to call off the game, the Trichy-based franchise was ahead of the DLS par score by four runs and hence were declared as the winners.

Earlier, Salem Spartans after being put in to bat first got off to a horrendous start, losing their opener Akshay Srinivasan for a golden duck. Hari Gopinath (24 off 19) then tried to keep the sinking innings of Spartan in control but couldn't score big as he got run out after a horror mix-up with S Ganesh. 

Following his dismissal, the Ruby Trichy Warriors could never recover and they kept losing wickets at regular intervals to eventually bundle out for just 87 runs and a ball remaining. 

The Warriors skipper Rahil Shah was the wrecker-in-chief with three wickets in his spell of 3.5 overs. Atheeq Ur Rahman, who was playing his first match of the season for Trichy Warriors, claimed two wickets while conceding just 9 runs in 3 overs he bowled.

Following this victory, the Warriors must have seen a little boost in their net run rate (NRR) but their chances of playoff qualifications are still hanging with a thread with "impossible" written on it.

Brief Scores: 

Salem Spartans: 87/10 (19.5 Overs) 

Hari Gopinath 24 (19), M Ashwin 13 (11); 

Rahil Shah 3-13 (3.5), Atheeq Ur Rahman 2-9 (3)

Ruby Trichy Warriors: 26/2 (5 Overs) 

Amith Sathvik 15*(17), Santosh Shiv 8 (8); 

Lokesh Raj 2-10 (2)

Ruby Trichy Warriors won by 4 runs (DLS method).