TNPL 2018: Lyca Kovai Kings return to winning ways with thumping win over Ruby Trichy Warriors

Riding on a strong bowling effort, Lyca Kovai Kings registered a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Ruby Trichy Warriors in the 2018 Sankar Cement-TNPL at the NPR College ground in Natham (Dindigul) on Monday, July 23.

Ruby Trichy Warriors, who played their last match on July 14 in Tirunelveli, struggled to adapt to the conditions in Natham. Opener Bharath Shankar 24 (17b,4×4) began well for the Warriors before being run-out in the sixth over through a direct-hit from Kovai Kings captain Abhinav Mukund.

Debutant leg-spinner S Manigandan, bowling the seventh over, picked up back-to-back wickets in his first over, sending back S Aravind and Mani Bharati. Left-arm spinner S Ajith Ram then dismissed C Ganapathy to reduce the Warriors to 43/5.

S Suresh Kumar and Sonu Yadav tried to step up the run-rate in their partnership of 34 but leg-spinner MP Rajesh removed the latter to leave Suresh Kumar 35 (33b, 2×4, 2×6) fighting a lone battle.

Chasing 125 runs to win, Kovai Kings opener Shahrukh Khan hit 67 (40b,8×3,3×6)  for his second fifty of the 2018 Sankar Cement-TNPL season. Captain Abhinav Mukund was unbeaten on 42 (35b,4×4,1×6) and finished the chase alongside R Rohith.

This win was Kovai Kings’ second win in four matches while Ruby Trichy Warriors tasted their first defeat in three matches.

Brief Scores:

Ruby Trichy Warriors 124/9 in 20 overs (Suresh Kumar 35, Bharat Shankar 24, S Manigandan 2-18, S Ajith Ram 2-26) lost to Lyca Kovai Kings 125/2 (Shahrukh Khan 67, Abhinav Mukund 42 n.o., D Kumaran 2-13).

AWARDS:

‘Sankar Cement’ Maximum Sixes Award: Shahrukh Khan (Lyca Kovai Kings)

‘Krishna Mines Super White Super Fours’ Award:  Shahrukh Khan (Lyca Kovai Kings)

‘Equitas Funtastic’ Player of the Match:  Suresh Kumar S (Ruby Trichy Warriors)

‘Sprite Most Refreshing Player’ Award: S.Manigandan (Lyca Kovai Kings)

‘Sankar Cement Man of the Match’ Award:  Shahrukh Khan (Lyca Kovai Kings)

‘Most number of DOT BALL bowled in the match’ Award: T.Natarajan/S.Manigandan (Lyca Kovai Kings)