TNPL 2023: Chepauk records second successive victory

CHENNAI: Four-time winner and joint defending champion Chepauk Super Gillies registered its second successive win in the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2023 after it comprehensively defeated iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans by seven wickets in Coimbatore on Thursday.

Chepauk, which had got the better of Salem Spartans in its tournament opener, is at the top of the table with four points while Tiruppur is yet to open its account after two matches. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Tamizhans could score at only a run-a-ball, finishing at 120 for seven at the end of its stipulated overs.

Chepauk cruised to the target in just the 16th over, courtesy of Baba Aparajith’s fluent 46 not out off 29 balls, a knock that was studded with four fours and three maximums. No.3 Aparajith stitched a 39-run second-wicket alliance with ‘Impact Player’ Pradosh Ranjan Paul, with the latter contributing 25 on the night.

When Super Gillies got past the line, Aparajith was alongside ‘Man of the Match’ Harish Kumar (12 not out), who had come up with a terrific performance of 2/12 (4 overs) with the ball in the first essay. After providing CSG with a superb start, removing Tushar Raheja (2) in the third over, medium pacer Harish also accounted for Vijay Shankar (28).

Experienced left-arm spinner Rahil Shah (2/18 off 4 overs) also delivered a match-influencing effort, dismissing NS Chaturved (8) and S Radhakrishnan (36). Radhakrishnan and Vijay Shankar steadied the ship with a 58-run stand for the fourth wicket – Tiruppur had been 24 for three in the sixth over – but the R Sai Kishore-led side never got going.

BRIEF SCORES: iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 120/7 in 20 overs (S Radhakrishnan 36, Harish Kumar 2/12, Rahil Shah 2/18) lost to Chepauk Super Gillies 121/3 in 15.4 overs (Baba Aparajith 46*, S Ajith Ram 2/15)