Kovai hold edge over Kaalai in Eliminator

DINDIGUL: There are no second chances from here on as Karaikudi Kaalai take on Lyca Kovai Kings in the TNPL Eliminator at NPR College Ground here on Tuesday.
The battle is likely to come down to how the Karaikudi and Kovai top-order fare. While Karaikudi opener Anirudha Srikkanth – 208 runs from five matches at an average of 52 – has been in roaring form and has got good support from K Vishal Vaidhya and M Shajahan, Kovai skipper M Vijay has the ability of winning a game on his own especially as he gets more game time under his belt after his wrist injury.So far, he has featured in two matches for Kovai and has had mixed results with scores of 69 and 0. In addition, Kovai have the likes of L Suryaprakash and B Anirudh Sita Ram (185 runs at 46.25), who have shown a tendency to rise to the big occasion.
Karaikudi skipper S Badrinath acknowledged that both teams have firepower in the top-order, but also felt it’s an area where Kovai could be exposed.
"I think our top-order has been firing really well. We have been consistently putting runs on the board. We hope to continue the good work against Kovai. As far as they are concerned, I feel their batting is top-heavy. Anirudh Sita Ram has been doing well for two seasons now. Vijay is a current Test cricketer and can have a huge impact. We have got some plans against him. If we can get him out early, we might be able to expose some chinks in their middle-order," Badrinath said.
Kovai, meanwhile, will be hoping to build on the momentum gained from winning two consecutive must-win games in the league stage. "The momentum is with us. We have come through in two consecutive must-win games. We believe we are peaking at the right time. With Vijay in our ranks, the confidence is high and the mood in the camp is really upbeat," Kovai assistant coach R Prasanna observed.
Syed Mohammed ruled out:
Kovai left-arm spinner J Syed Mohammed, who captained the side in the first two matches, hasn’t yet recovered from a shoulder injury sustained against Chepauk Super Gillies on July 29 and will be unavailable for the Eliminator.
Key battles:
Anirudha Srikkanth vs K Vignesh
Anirudha Srikkanth has been around for a long while, but he seems to have really welcomed the responsibility of being a senior player this season. His battle with seamer K Vignesh, who is Kovai’s leading wicket-taker with seven wickets, might decide how the clash pans out.
Captaincy duel between Badrinath and Vijay
While S Badrinath hasn’t been amongst the runs, his shrewdness as captain has benefitted Karaikudi at key moments. The 36-year-old’s counterpart on Wednesday will be M Vijay, who seems to have reinvigorated the Kovai side since joining them last week.