Vida Kovai Kings stormed into the TNPL-10 final with an 84-run win over Trichy Grand Cholas in Qualifier 2 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
Two-time champion Vida Kovai Kings secured a place in the TNPL-10 final with a dominant 84-run win over Trichy Grand Cholas in Qualifier 2 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday. Kovai Kings will meet Madurai Panthers in the summit clash on Friday at 7.30 p.m.
Kovai Kings built their total of 183 for five on a 104-run opening stand between S. Lokeshwar and S. Radhakrishnan. Lokeshwar top-scored with 66 off 44 balls (eight fours, one six), reaching his seventh TNPL fifty off 29 deliveries, while Radhakrishnan contributed 48. Both openers were given reprieves, with Lokeshwar dropped on seven and Radhakrishnan on 26.
Trichy medium-pacer R. Rajkumar picked up three for 29, alongside taking a sharp catch in the deep, but Kovai skipper Shahrukh Khan struck an 18-ball 34 to ensure a strong finish for his side.
Trichy's run chase fell apart immediately as medium-pacer K. Deeban Lingesh claimed a hat-trick off the first three balls of the innings—removing K. Rajkumar, S. Shyam Sundar, and J. Kousik—and completed a maiden opening over. Left-arm spinner M. Siddharth then dismantled the middle order, taking four for 11, the best bowling figures of the season.
Reeling at seven for five after 21 balls, Trichy failed to recover despite J. Suresh Kumar's 48. Kovai Impact Player R. Divakar took two for 14 as Trichy were bundled out for 99 in 15.4 overs, with Deeban finishing on three for 14.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.