Kovai Kings registers a dominating 9-wicket win against Tuti Patriots

After losing their first game in Super over, the Lyca Kovai Kings have bullied the Albert Tuti Patriots, who were playing their first game since the opening match in which they defeated Chennai Super Gillies by 48 runs at Chepauk itself. The Kovai Kings bowled out the Tuti Patriots for just 95 and later chased down the target losing only one wicket in just 12.5 overs.

The Tuti Patriots won the toss and elected to bat first. Washington Sundar struck a couple of boundaries early on while Vignesh cleaned up Tuti’s stand in captain Kaushik Gandhi for 7. Sathyanarayan had to walk back without scoring as Suryaprakash’s direct hit caught him short of the crease. Soon Mohammed got rid of Anand for 3. The Patriots’ batting never kept going as the batting side crawled under 5 an over with the Kovai Kings’ bowlers tightening the screws. Sushil hit Tuti’s first boundary in 6 overs but was caught at deep midwicket trying to take on Syed Mohammad.

Washington Sundar struck the first six of the innings in the   17th over, which turned out to be the only boundary in the last 10 overs. MK Sivakumar took the first hat-trick of the TNPL as he sent back Maaruthi Raghav, Washington Sundar and Akash Sumra in consecutive deliveries. Washington’s innings came to an end at 43 off 48 balls with 2 fours and a six. Lakshmipathy Balaji was the last man to be dismissed as he got run out due to a mix up on the penultimate ball with the Tuti team being bowled out for 95. Sivakumar finished with the figures of 3.5-0-10-3.

Murali Vijay, who was doubtful for the game due to a slight wrist injury was fit enough to play. However, he didn’t open the batting for his side and was sitting in the dugout with a band around his right wrist. Kovai Kings’ openers Anirudh Sita Ram and Laxmesha Suryaprakash batted with ease and scored runs at a very good pace.

Anirudh especially, started aggressively while Suryaprakash slowly caught up with him. Suryaprakash got out in an unfortunate manner with his side needed 2 more runs as he got run out in follow through off Sumra’s bowling. Suryaprakash scored 43 in 39 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. Anirudh remained unbeaten on 48 off 37 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes.

MK Sivakumar was awarded the man of the match award for his hat-trick.

Brief Scores:

Tuti Patriots – 95/10 in 19.5 overs (Washington Sundar 43; MK Sivakumar 3/10)

Lyca Kovai Kings – 96/1 in 12.5 overs (B Anirudh Sita Ram 48*, L Suryaprakash 43)