TNPL-5: Chaturved, Kousik help Madurai ease past Tiruppur by 81 runs

CHENNAI: Skipper NS Chaturved (41 n.o., 1x4, 4x6) and J Kousik (40, 3x4, 2x6) played a key role in Siechem Madurai Panthers’ 81-run win over iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans in their TNPL-5 encounter at Chepauk on Monday. Kousik and Chaturved’s fiery 78-run stand from 42 deliveries for the fourth wicket helped Madurai notch up 184-4 in the first half before their bowlers delivered the knockout punch by dismissing Tiruppur for 103 in 17.4 overs.
Chasing 185, Tiruppur got off to the worst possible start as they slipped to 38 for 5 by the 8th over.The situation didn’t get any better as Tiruppur found themselves at 38 for 7 after 10 overs. The 8th wicket partnership of 38 between R Rajkumar (42) and Tushar Raheja (11) delayed the inevitable for Tiruppur. Once the pair was broken in the 15th over --- Madurai wrapped things up quickly. Medium-pacers R Silambarasan (2-8), V Gowtham (2-14) and left-arm spinner Aushik Srinivas (2-25) shone with the ball for the winning side.
The first half of the match saw Madurai finish with a strong total. The fourth wicket stand between Chaturved and Kousik gave solidity to Madurai’s total. The duo arrived with the scoreboard reading 89 for 3 in the 13th over. By the time Kousik was dismissed in the final over --- Madurai had reached 167 for 4. KB Arun Karthick’s 11 off 3 balls saw Madurai finish on a high. Kousik and Chaturved showed no mercy on the Tiruppur bowlers as they punished every loose delivery on offer. Kousik and Chaturved ensured Madurai smashed 88 runs in the last 6 overs.
Chaturved and Kousik built on the platform set by the top-3 batsmen – openers P Praveen Kumar (35, 2 fours, 1 six), P Sugendhiran (20, 2 fours, 1 six) and B Anirudh Sita Ram (33, 3 fours, 1 six). Wicketkeeper- batsman Praveen held the innings together in the initial stages by adding 35 runs off 29 balls for the first wicket with Sugendhiran and then stitching a 54-run stand for the second wicket before holing out in the deep. For Tiruppur, medium-pacer A Karuppusamy shone with figures of 2 for 14.
Brief scores Siechem Madurai Panthers 184-4 in 20 overs (NS Chaturved 41 n.o., J Kousik 40). iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 103 in 17.4 overs (R Rajkumar 42; Aushik Srinivas 2-25, Gowtham 2-14, Silambarasan 2-8). Madurai won by 81 runs