TNPL 2022 | Sanjay Yadav & Baba Aparajith blitzkrieg help NRK thrash RTW by 66 runs

Sanjay Yadav and Baba Aparajith's stormy innings, backed by late disciplined bowling helped Nellai Royal Kings notch up a massive 66-run victory over Ruby Trichy Warriors in the 19th match of TNPL 2022 played at SNR College Cricket Ground, Coimbatore on Friday, July 15. 

While Sanjay came down on the opposition bowlers like a ton of bricks, hammering an unbeaten 55-ball 103, Baba Aparajith remained not out for 92 off 48 deliveries to steer NRK to a whopping total of 236/2 in 20 overs.

Later in the second half, K Easwaran and once again, Baba Aparajith, this time with the ball wreaked havoc, picking up two wickets each to restrict Ruby Trichy Warriors to 170/7 at the end of 20 overs. 

Murali Vijay's Blistering Start To RTW

Chasing a daunting target of 237 runs, the Ruby Trichy Warriors started well, with Murali Vijay and S Santosh Shiv adding 50 runs partnership off just 28 balls for the opening wicket. 

RTW was only looking to convert their good start before they got the first dent in their chase in the form of Santosh Shiv (10-ball 9) who smashed the short delivery down the leg side off Sanjay Yadav directly to the hands of M Shajahan, who was stationed at fine leg. 

An Embarrassing Batting Collapse

The dismissal of Shiv triggered a dramatic middle-order batting collapse, which saw the side losing two wickets in quick succession, leaving them languishing at 73/3 in 7 overs. 

Soon, Nellai Royal Kings got rid of wicket-Keeper batter Adithya Ganesh, the second highest run scorer with 13 runs off 12 balls and Antony Dhas (1) to reduce the Warriors to 108/5 in 11.4 overs. 

Vijay, who came to open the inning for RTW and was holding one side tight did try to take the game as deep as possible, but he kept running out of partners. 

NRK Bowling Attack Derails RTW's Chase 

Eventually, the 38-year-old smashed a century but it wasn’t enough as Ruby Trichy Warriors fell 66 runs short and only managed to reach 170/7 in 20 overs. 

Murali Vijay was the last wicket to fall for Rahil Shah & Co as he ended up playing a memorable knock of 66-ball 121 but unfortunately, it went in the losing cause.

For Nellai Royal Kings, K Easwaran and Baba Aparajith bagged two wickets each while the other bowlers ended up with one scalp apiece. 

Brief Score: 

Nellai Royal Kings: 236/2 (20 Overs) 

Sanjay Yadav 103* (55), Baba Aparajith 92* (48)

Saravan Kumar 1-42 (4), Rahil Shah 1-13 (1) 

Ruby Trichy Warriors: 170/7 (20 Overs) 

Murali Vijay 121 (66), Adithya Ganesh 13 (12)

Baba Aparajith 2-38 (4), K Easwaran 2-42 (4) 

Nellai Royal Kings won by 66 runs.

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