Vida Kovai Kings skipper M. Shahrukh Khan blasted an unbeaten 59 off 18 balls to power his team to an 85-run DLS victory over Dindigul Dragons, while Trichy Grand Cholas became the first team to reach the playoffs.
Vida Kovai Kings skipper M. Shahrukh Khan delivered a sensational performance in a must-win final league match, hammering an unbeaten 18-ball 59 to lead his side to an 85-run victory (DLS method) over Dindigul Dragons at the MAC Stadium on Friday.
After Kovai Kings openers S. Radhakrishnan and S. Lokeshwar collected 56 runs in the PowerPlay, heavy rain halted play for 75 minutes at 96 for three in 12.1 overs. The contest was truncated to 16 overs per side, and upon resumption, Shahrukh launched an aggressive assault, plundering 75 runs alongside B. Sachin (30 n.o.) in the final 3.5 overs to finish at 171 for three. Shahrukh hit leggie Nirankar Sharma for a six, took 23 runs off Sandeep Warrier, and finished the innings with a hat-trick of sixes off S. Karuppasamy.
Chasing a revised target of 179, the 2024 champion Dindigul Dragons lost opener Shivam Singh on the first ball of the innings. Left-arm spinner M. Siddharth (2/21) and Jhathavedh Subramanyan (4/12) ripped through the lineup, reducing the Dragons to 59 for six before wrapping them up for 93 for nine in 13.2 overs.
In the second match of the day, Trichy Grand Cholas became the first team to qualify for the Playoffs after beating four-time champions Chepauk Super Gillies by 14 runs. Opting to bat, Grand Cholas posted 191 for seven courtesy of half-centuries from S. Shyam Sundar (52) and Sanjay Yadav (54). In response, CSG's K. Aashiq smashed 75 off 41 balls, but lacked support as CSG were restricted to 177 for six, knocking them out of the competition.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Cricket. Photo courtesy The Hindu Cricket.