Kovai edge past Karaikudi in eliminator

CHENNAI: Lyca Kovai Kings registered a 24-run win over Karaikudi Kaalai in their TNPL-3 eliminator at the NPR College ground in Dindigul on Thursday night. Kovai scored 137 for 8 with their skipper Abhinav Mukund (51, 4x4, 1x6) leading the batting charts, and subsequently defended it with pace duo - K Vignesh (3-19) and T Natarajan (4-24) being the standout performers.Kovai face Siechem Madurai Panthers in Qualifier 2 at the same venue on Friday.
In pursuit of 138, Karaikudi's innings never got going. Vignesh and Natarajan bowled to a plan and never allowed the Karaikudi batsmen to settle. Vignesh's triple strikes gave Kovai the edge early and Natarajan was instrumental in dismissing the lower-order to bowl out Karaikudi for 113 in 19.4 overs. The only semblance of fightback from Karaikudi came when Maan Bafna (40, 2x4, 2x6) and Kishan Kumar (25, 2x4, 1x6) added 43 runs for the eighth wicket. But once Bafna departed, trapped leg-before by Natarajan in the 18th over, the chase was pretty much over.
Earlier, Karaikudi's bowlers did well to restrict Kovai to a modest total. Medium-pacer R Rajkumar (4 for 30) was the standout performer for Karaikudi. Brought into the attack in the 9th over, Rajkumar was instrumental in dismissing Akkil Srinaath (5), Venkataraman (15, 2x4), P Rajesh (10, 1x4) and R Mithun (10, 2x4) as Kovai's scoring-rate suffered. Kovai lost opener Shahrukh Khan (14, 2x4) early. Abhinav kept the scoreboard ticking in his 46-ball essay. But once Abhinav departed, run out in 15th over, Kovai's hopes of finishing off on a high ended.
Apart from Rajkumar, leg-spinner Kishan Kumar (2 for 27) and V Lakshman (1 for 22) shone with thje ball.
Brief scores: Lyca Kovai Kings 137 for 8 in 20 overs (Abhinav Mukund 51; Rajkumar 4 for 30). Karaikudi Kaalai 113 all out in 19.4 overs (Maan Bafna 40; Natarajan 4 for 24, K Vignesh 3 for 19). Kovai by 24 runs