TNPL 2022: IDTT beat RTW by 4 wickets

CHENNAI: Tushar Raheja and M Mohammed stitched a match-winning, unbeaten 60-run partnership as iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans began its Tamil Nadu Premier League 2022 campaign with a four-wicket victory over Ruby Trichy Warriors in Tirunelveli on Monday.

Chasing 158 for a win in its season opener, Tiruppur was struggling at 98 for six in the 15th over. But, the left-right combination of Raheja (42 not out off 26 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) and Mohammed (29 not out off 15 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) turned the tide in Tiruppur’s favour with the unconquered seventh-wicket partnership.

Subramanian Anand (35 off 26 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) and Maan Bafna (26 off 28 balls, 3 fours) had added 61 runs for the third wicket after Tamizhans lost both its openers – captain Aniruda Srikkanth (9) and S Siddharth (7) – for single-digit scores. Trichy pacer Saravana Kumar (3/44) accounted for both the opening batters, but could not keep his composure in the 19th over, where Tiruppur smashed 16 runs off just five balls.

In the end, Tamizhans recorded the win with seven balls to spare. Earlier, Trichy could manage only 157 for six despite a fine 57-run opening alliance between Amit Sathvik (26 off 21 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) and Murali Vijay (34 off 16 balls, 6 fours, 1 six). Vijay, who looked scratchy in the team’s opening match, was in the zone as he tore into the Tiruppur attack.

However, Tamizhans came back strongly in the middle overs, restricting Warriors to 112 for six in the 15th over. M Mathivanan (27 not out off 18 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) struck a few lusty blows to take the Trichy total past the 150-run mark.

BRIEF SCORES: Ruby Trichy Warriors 157/6 in 20 overs (Murali Vijay 34, M Mathivanan 27*, Aswin Crist 2/41) lost to iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 158/6 in 18.5 overs (Tushar Raheja 42*, Subramanian Anand 35, M Mohammed 29*, Saravana Kumar 3/44, M Mathivanan 2/20)