TNPL: Super gillies faces veerans

CSG has three wins under its belt from four matches and is placed comfortably in the top half of the table. The Kaushik Gandhi-led team suffered a close defeat in its opener, at the hands of Ravichandran Ashwin-led Dindigul Dragons, which is on top of the pile. Thereafter, it has looked unstoppable, notching up a hat-trick of victories.

CSG emerged victorious against Ruby Trichy Warriors, iDream Karaikudi Kaalai and Lyca Kovai Kings, all by comfortable margins. Openers KH Gopinath and Ganga Sridhar Raju have been in good nick, posting two century partnerships already.

The duo will hope to yet again provide a cracking start in the eight-team competition. Gandhi is yet to deliver a big score, but with loads of experience, one would expect the right-handed batter to set the tournament alive in the upcoming matches.

Bowlers G Periyaswamy, Ramadoss Alexandar and Murugan Ashwin will strive to contain the Kanchi batsmen. VBKV has the same number of triumphs as its rival and is placed second in the standings.

Skipper Baba Aparajith came up with a match-winning knock against Tuti Patriots and will once again look to lead his side from the front. All-rounder Rajagopal Sathish played a quick-fire cameo in the same match.

Sathish plied his trade at CSG in the first two editions of TNPL and the history makes up for an interesting contest. Gowtham Thamarai Kannan, though expensive, was the side’s best bowler in its last outing. He will have to come up with the goods if Kanchi is to stop the free-flowing CSG opening combination.

Defending champion Siechem Madurai Panthers will look to stitch two victories on the trot as it squares off against Lyca Kovai Kings in the Sankar Cement Tamil Nadu Premier League Season 4 at the NPR College Ground in Dindigul.

Madurai comes into the contest on the back of a Super Over victory against Trichy Warriors, where all-rounder Abhishek Tanwar was the star. Crossing the line in such a tightly-contested duel would have given it the much-needed confidence ahead of the game.

Both sides have two wins in their kitty from four matches and the result on Friday could have a huge say on who is likely to make it to the play-offs. Captain Abhinav Mukund, Shahrukh Khan and all-rounder W Antony Dhas hold the key for Kovai.