TNPL 2023: Dindigul Dragons pull off a one-run win over Chepauk Super Gillies; Kovai Kings prevails over Ba11sy Trichy

The Dindigul side rides on Adithya Ganesh’s good knock, Varun’s three-for and Subodh’s cameo; Aparajith’s valiant innings to no avail for the Chepauk side; Sujay and Siddharth deliver for Kovai Kings against Ba11sy Trichy

Varun Chakravarthy’s three for 23 helped Dindigul Dragons pull off a one-run thriller against Chepauk Super Gillies in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) at the NPR Cricket Ground in Natham on Wednesday.

This is the first instance of a team winning by one run in the history of the league.

With 12 required off the last over, this is what transpired: 4, wicket, 4, 1, wicket, 1 run/wicket (run out).

B. Aparajith’s brave knock (74, 40b, 2x4, 7x6) kept Super Gilllies in the contest until the end. With 41 required off three overs, Aparajith hit two successive sixes — over the mid-wicket boundary and a straight hit, but holed out to long off going for the third. He even hit a six off R. Ashwin’s carrom ball earlier.

Until Wednesday, the two strips the matches have been played on were said to have retained moisture, had grass patches, and offered bounce. There hadn’t been pronounced turn for the spinners.

But on Wednesday, Super Gillies captain N. Jagadeesan observed that the strip was relatively “drier” and “less grassy,” even as he won the toss and opted to bowl.

Propelled by opener Rahul (20, 9b, 2x4, 2x6), Dragons got to 28 in two overs, then lost three wickets to be on 47 for three in six overs. By 10 overs, Dragons were reduced to 66 for five.