Rithik Easwaran and Ajith Guruswamy played two of the most splendid knocks in the history of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) to take their team to the final of the tournament. Nellai Royal Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first on a good batting surface. With the help of Shivam Singh’s 76(46) and Boopathi Kumar’s 42(28), Dindigul Dragons posted a competitive total of 185/5 in their 20overs. Chasing 186, Royal Kings got a good start. Captain Arun Karthik was off to a flier.
At the other end, P Sugendhiran struggled to get going. As Arun was dismissed, in walked Guruswamy. At the other end, both Sugendhiran and Nidhish Rajgopal struggled to get going. In fact, both the partners of Guruswamy even struggled to rotate the strike, thanks to a tidy spell from Varun Chakravarthy and Suboth Bhati in the middle overs. Sugendhiran’s 22(24) and Rajgopal’s 26(27) halted the proceedings, so much so that the latter had to be dismissed retired out.
The new batter in the middle, Rithik Easwaran, got going from the word go. It helped the set batter Guruswamy to find his rhythm. In the last 2 overs, 37 runs were needed to win, which is not easy to achieve. G Kishoor was asked to bowl the 19th over. Kishoor attempted a slower one on the first ball, but it was a bit too full. The Southpaw read the slow ball and dispatched it over the long off for a six. Kishoor then went around the wicket and bowled a full delivery. Easwaran dispatched it over the long-on to fetch maximum runs.
Kishoor went back over the wicket and bowled yet another slower one, similar to the first ball of the over. Easwaran picked it up and dispatched over the extra cover region for a six. It was three sixes in a row. Easwaran then took a single. 18 runs were needed in 8 deliveries. For the right-hand batter, Kishoor went around the wicket and bowled a slower one.
Guruswamy moved across and dispatched the ball over the deep mid-wicket region for a six. Kishoor bowled a no-ball, and the two batters ran a single. Easwaran faced the free hit as Kishoor went over the wicket and delivered a full toss. The Southpaw scooped the ball and fetched maximum runs. 33 runs came off the 19th over, which changed the game completely. Royal Kings won the match by 7 wickets and entered the finals.
Here's how the fans reacted to the incredible moment -
Bowling level in Indian domestic tournaments 😂😂
— Luke Skywalker (@Siddhar47354588) July 10, 2023
Looks like fixing at it's peak😎
— Shoeb शोएब شوعيب (@themdshoeb) July 11, 2023
A Guruswamy is a 20yrs wk batter.... future of India....he also leading run scorer of this season
— Biswajit Cricketer (@BiswajitCric718) July 11, 2023
No Yorker
— Nadeem Bagwan 🇮🇳 (@786_nadz) July 10, 2023
No Bouncer
No Slower Bowl
Bowling half volleys at death overs is a crime #TNPL2023
Full length balls not tried any other delivery
— sekhar 😎 (@Sekhar_lotla) July 11, 2023
Why the bowler is Bowling on the slot ?
— Vinayak (@nandhuzsz) July 11, 2023
Have some Shame Kishoor destroyed all the hard work done by Varun😡
— Arka (@ARKA0432) July 10, 2023
Future indian bowling 😥
— BLooDLusT (@BLooD____LusT) July 11, 2023
We are doomed