Hari, Mani help Dindigul notch up 1st win of TNPL-5

CHENNAI: It was a run-fest at Chepauk on Sunday evening as K Mani Bharathi (81, 8x4, 5x6) and Hari Nishanth (70, 6x4, 5x6) helped Dindigul Dragons chase down 202 to beat Lyca Kovai Kings by 5 wickets and notch up their first win of TNPL-5. This was the highest successful chase in the history of the tournament. In pursuit of a daunting total, Mani and Hari added 153 runs for the second wicket as Dindigul crossed the finish line in 18 overs.
The two got together at the fall of opener S Arun (20) in the 5th over.Both Mani and Hari kept the scoreboard ticking with some big shots and swift running between the wickets. Once they got their eye in, the two became unstoppable. At the half-way mark, Dindigul were placed at 117 for 1 with Mani unbeaten on 49 and Hari giving him company on 44. Mani raised his 50 from 20 balls in the 11th over. His partner Nishant followed him by crossing his half-century from 29 balls in the next over. By the time Mani’s 32-ball blitz ended in the 14th over --- Dindigul needed only 26 runs from 37 balls. Dindigul suffered a middle-order collapse where they lost four wickets quickly before No. 7 S Swaminathan (17 n.o) and No. 5 S Lokeshwar (9 n.o.) helped the side cross the finish line with 12 balls to spare.
Earlier, Ganga Sridhar Raju’s unbeaten 57-ball 90 was instrumental in Kovai posting 201 for 1. Opener Ganga kicked off with a 108-run stand with Suresh Kumar (58) and followed it up with 93 runs for the second wicket with Sai Sudharsan (40 n.o.).
Brief scores: Lyca Kovai Kings 201-1 in 20 overs (Ganga Sridhar Raju 90 n.o, Sai Sudharsan 40 n.o., Suresh Kumar 58). Dindigul Dragons 202-5 in 18 overs (C Hari Nishant 70, Mani Bharathi 81). Dindigul won by 5 wickets
Adnan, Adithya star in Trichy win: Adithya Ganesh (41 off 44 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) and Adnan Khan (53 off 38 balls, 4 fours, 3 sixes) shone for Ruby Trichy Warriors as they beat Siechem Madurai Panthers by three wickets. Chasing Madurai's 138, Trichy won with 6 balls to spare.
Brief scores: Siechem Madurai Panthers 137-6 in 20 overs (J Kousik 44, Anirudh Sitaram 36 n.o.; Mathivanan 2-18). Ruby Trichy Warriors 138-7 in 19 overs