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Nellai Royal Kings secured a tense three-wicket win over SKM Salem Spartans in match number nine of the 2024 Tamil Nadu Premier League on July 11 at the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground. The outcome helped the Royal Kings displace Lyca Kovai Kings to take the top spot on the TNPL 2024 points table.
The Lyca Kovai Kings, also with two wins from two games, slipped to number two as they hold a slightly inferior NRR (0.350) in comparison to that of the Nellai Royal Kings (0.394).
With a win each to their credit, Trichy Grand Cholas, Dindigul Dragons, and Chepauk Super Gillies all dropped a rung to be placed at number three, four, and five respectively on the eight-team updated standings.
The NRR prospects of SKM Salem Spartans coped a massive blow owing to their latest defeat against the Nellai Royal Kings. Currently ranked sixth on the table, the Spartans hold a dismal NRR of -0.097. Siechem Madurai Panthers, with a win and a defeat from two matches, are ranked seventh with an NRR of -1.452.
IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, yet to open their account on the points table, are placed at the bottom of the ladder.
Here is a look at the updated Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2024 points table after match nine on July 11:
Sonu Yadav’s five-fer, Suryaprakash’s 43* headline Nellai’s tight win
Sonu Yadav headlined Nellai Royal Kings’ bowling act against SKM Salem Spartans by picking up five wickets at the expense of just 30 runs from his four overs. Ragupathy Silambarasan (2/32), Emmanuel Cherian (1/27), Mohan Prasath (1/19), and NS Haris (1/13) picked up the remaining five wickets on offer to skittle the entire SKM Salem Spartans line-up for just 141 in 19.2 overs.
For the Spartans, number three Robin Bist top-scored with 23 while no other batter managed to outscore captain Shijit Chandran’s mere 20-run effort in the middle-order.
Chasing 142, Nellai Royal Kings lost two wickets in the opening powerplay, and three by the halfway stage of the innings courtesy of Sunny Sandhu (1/28) and Harish Kumar (2/24). ME Yazh Arun Mozhi also struck thrice in his four-over spell to bag figures of 3/22.
However, a valiant 45 from Guruswamy Ajitesh and an unbeaten 43 from Laxmesha Suryaprakash steered the Nellai Royal Kings to a thrilling three-wicket win in the penultimate over of the game.
