Shahrukh Khan's final-over heroics, claiming two wickets and conceding just three runs, helped Lyca Kovai Kings edge out the league leaders Nellai Royal Kings by five runs in a topsy-turvy encounter on Saturday.
Kovai Kings seal dramatic final over win
With 9 runs needed off the final over and the star all-rounder Sanjay Yadav standing tall with the bat at 54, it looked like the Royal Kings were cruising to victory.
Skipper Shahrukh Khan then turned up like a knight in shining armour for the Kovai Kings as he bowled a dramatic final over, removing the dangerous-looking Sanjay Yadav for 54 on the second delivery to turn the match on its head.
Soon after Yadav's departure, Shahrukh Khan once again struck on the fourth delivery of the over to clean up V Davidson for a duck and followed it by two dots on the trot to restrict the Royals 172/9.
Half-century from Sanjay Yadav in vain
Chasing 178, Nellai got off to a forceful start, with L Suryaprakash (33-ball 45) and Baba Aparajith (31-ball 37) cobbling up a 69-run stand for the second wicket.
G Ajithesh played a sensational cameo of 5-ball 17. However, it was Sanjay Yadav who kept the Royal Kings alive in the run-chase by scoring runs at a brisk rate, but eventually couldn’t steer NRK past the winning line.
J Suresh Kumar's onslaught steers LKK to 177
Earlier, in the first half of the game, Lyca Kovai Kings went on to post a stiff total of 177 runs on the board, courtesy of a marvellous 117-run partnership between their openers.
Suresh Kumar was the star with the bat yet again for his side, notching up 75 runs from 48 balls, with the help of seven boundaries and three sixes. Sridhar fell just 2 runs short of his half-century, smacking 48 runs off 43 balls.
Brief Score:
Lyca Kovai Kings: 177/4 (20 Overs)
Suresh Kumar 75 (48), Sridhar Raju 48 (43); V Davidson 1-35 (4)
Nellai Royal Kings: 172/9 (20 Overs)
Sanjay Yadav 54 (31), L Suryaprakash 45 (33); R Divakar 3-40 (3), Shahrukh Khan 2-8 (2)
Lyca Kovai Kings won by 5 runs.