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The 22nd game of the 2024 Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) saw the Lyca Kovai Kings register an emphatic 43-run victory over the Siechem Madurai Panthers. The Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli hosted the clash on Tuesday, July 23.
Shahrukh Khan, the skipper of the Lyca Kovai Kings, was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance. He scored a half-century (51 off 26), bowled figures of 1/16, and took two catches.
After 22 matches this season, the tournament has entered a crucial stage. Let's take a look at how the teams are poised as far as the points table is concerned:
Lyca Kovai Kings’ victory over the Madurai Panthers has further cemented their place atop the points table with five victories in six matches and a tally of 10 points. They also happen to boast the highest net run rate (+0.813) out of all the teams this season.
Meanwhile, the Chepauk Super Gillies have won four out of their six matches this season. They are in second place with eight points and a net run rate of +0.511.
Two teams are on six points at this stage of the tournament. The Trichy Grand Cholas have scored three wins and three losses in the six games played so far, and they are in the third spot. Meanwhile, the Dindigul Dragons have also accumulated six points in one game less and see themselves in the fourth position.
The Nellai Royal Kings are fifth on the points leaderboard with five points and a net run rate of -0.135. IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans occupy the sixth position with two wins in five games. The Siechem Madurai Panthers, after today’s loss against the Kings, languish in seventh place with three points to their name.
The Salem Spartans have had a sorry season after the completion of six games, with just one win, two points, and an abysmal net run average of -0.969.
Kovai Kings hand Madurai Panthers a 43-run loss
Lyca Kovai Kings were put into bat first after the Siechem Madurai Panthers won the toss and elected to field first. Sai Sudharsan scored a mature knock of 34 runs for the Kovai Kings. He scored his runs at a strike rate of 130.76, scoring three boundaries in his 26 delivery-long innings.
But it was skipper Shahrukh Khan who was the shining star of the Kovai Kings' batting lineup, scoring a quickfire half-century in just 26 deliveries. His innings was laced with two boundaries and five maximums, scoring his runs at a strike rate of 196.15.
In the end, the Kovai Kings managed to score 163/9 in 20 overs as Ajay Krishna and R Mithun were the top wicket-takers for the Madurai Panthers. Ajay Krishna finished his three-over spell with figures of 4/20, while R Mithun took two wickets at an economy rate of just four.
Chasing a total of 164, the Madurai Panthers never looked comfortable. This is despite contributions from Jagathhesan Kousik (27), R Mithun (26) and Karthick Manikanandan (33). The Siechem Madurai Panthers were eventually bowled out for a paltry 120 in 20 overs. Gowtham Thamarai Kannan led the charge for the Madurai Panthers, with figures of 4/20 in four overs.
