In the eliminator of the TNPL 2022, Madurai Panthers locked horns with Lyca Kovai Kings, and the match winner was decided by the DLS method. Madurai team were ranked third at the end of the league stage with five wins under their belt out of the 7 matches they played. Kovai team ranked fourth in the league stage with four wins under their belt. Here is the match report of the encounter:
Tamil Nadu Premier League 2022: Eliminator Siechem Madurai Panthers vs Lyca Kovai Kings
The Madurai team won the toss and elected to bat first. Salem’s Ground has been a low-scoring ground, but teams batting second have not been able to chase the total most of the time. This decision was understandable given the recent history.
Openers V Aditya and Arun Karthik got off to a steady start. The openers added 33 runs for the first wicket as Surya B bagged Aditya. At the end of nine overs, the Madurai team were 49/2. Arun Karthik played a steady knock until the fall of the third wicket. Sarangan was dismissed for just 16 runs. Abhishek Tanwar’s 2-wicket 19th over restricted the Madurai team to 126/7 at the end of 20 overs. Arun Karthik remained not out after scoring 47 off 51 balls. Abhishek Tanwar and Ajith Ram picked up two wickets each for the Kovai team.
The Kovai team got off to a flyer. Ganga Sridhar Raju and Suresh Kumar helped the team reach 41 runs at the end of the powerplay. The boundaries were coming from all ends. Kovai team were 72/0 at 9.5 overs when rain interrupted the match. The Madurai bowlers were not able to pick up a wicket. At the end of the day, the Kovai team won the match by 20runs by the D/L method.
Kovai team will play the loser of Qualifier 1, in the second qualifier of TNPL 2022. Madurai team’s stint in the league came to end with a stunning defeat from the Kovai team.
SMP vs LKK: Match Summary
Siechem Madurai Panthers: 126/7
Arun Karthik: 47(51), Jagatheesan Kousik: 17(14)
Lyca Kovai Kings: 72/0
Ganga Sridhar Raju: 49(40), J Suresh Kumar: 20(21)
