TNPL: Dragons reclaims top spot

Set to chase 159, the Dragons reached the target with the minimum of fuss with southpaw C Hari Nishanth scoring a whirlwind unbeaten knock of 81, consisting of four fours and five sixes, and his partner N Jagadeesan contributing an equally entertaining 78 off 47 balls that included seven fours and three sixes.

The duo toyed around with the hapless bowlers of Karaikudi slamming them for boundaries at will, and huge sixes that landed outside the ground. Nishanth signalled his intent early on whacking medium pacer V Lakshman for two sixes on the on side in the second over. Before long, Jagadeesan too joined him in the boundary-hitting spree to put the result beyond any doubt.

Earlier, Karaikudi captain S Anirudha won the toss and had no hesitiation in batting first. India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, a vital cog in the squad of Karaikudi, was playing his first match in the TNPL this edition. Anirudha continued his rich vein of form and was desperately unlucky to miss out on a hundred by two runs when he was dismissed off the last ball of the innings trying to go for a big hit.

In fact, the Karaikudi innings revolved Anirudha as he received little support from others who couldn’t convert their starts. Dindigul captain R Ashwin got the better of his India team-mate Dinesh Karthik when he castled him with a delivery that went between his bat and pads.

Brief scores: Karaikudi Kaalai 158/7 in 20 overs (S Anirudha 98, R Rohit 2/23) lost to Dindigul Dragons 161/0 in 17 overs (C Hari Nishanth 81 not out, N Jagadeesan 78 not out)