TNPL: Tuti Patriots march past Kovai Kings

CHENNAI: Tuti Patriots made it two-out-of-two as they scored a 11-run win over Lyca Kovai Kings in their TNPL-3 clash at the NPR College ground in Dindigul on Friday. After scoring 182 for 7 batting first, Patriots restricted their opposition to 171 for 8.
With an asking rate of 9-an-over, Kovai needed a quick-fire start. The opening pair comprising skipper Abhinav Mukund (21, 2x4) and Shahrukh Khan (23, 2x4, 1x6) added 40 in 5.5 overs before the latter was caught-and-bowled by left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore (1-38) in the 6th over.
The dismissals of Abhinav and No. 4 Pradosh Ranjan Paul (3) slowed Kovai's chase. The fourth wicket partnership of 30 between Antony Dhas (20, 1x4, 1x6) and Akkil Srinaath (35, 1x4, 4x6) kept the side in business but once the two got out, Kovai struggled again and lost wickets in regular intervals.
The seventh-wicket stand between R Rohith (25, 3x6) and P Rajesh (21, 1x4, 1x6) provided some late fireworks as they added 41 runs in 4.2 overs before the former was trapped leg-before by Athisayaraj Davidson (3-35). Once Rohith got out, Kovai's chase fizzled out. Apart from Davidson, Akash Sumra (3-32) was the other notable performer with the ball for Patriots.
Earlier, Patriots rode handy contributions from their skipper Kaushik Gandhi (43, 3x4, 3x6), S Dinesh (59, 3x4, 4x6) and Akshay Srinivasan (45, 5x4, 2x6) to finish with a competitive total. They started off on a strong note with Kaushik and Dinesh adding 89 from 8.4 overs.
Kaushik, dropped on 6 and 43, struck some meaty blows in his 25-ball essay before his luck ran out as he was caught-and-bowled by leggie P Rajesh (2-31) in the 9th over. Left-hander Dinesh, on the other hand, looked in good touch as well - producing shots on all sides of the wicket in his 42-ball innings.
Kovai hit back in the 15th over when they got rid of Dinesh - caught by keeper Rohith off the bowling of K Vignesh (1-30). Dinesh's departure turned the tide in Kovai's favour. They only gave away 41 in the last 6 overs, thanks to some incisive death-over bowling by T Natarajan (2-34), Rajesh and Ajith Ram (2-27).
Brief scores: Tuti Patriots 182 for 7 in 20 overs (Kaushik Gandhi 43, S Dinesh 59, Akshay Srinivasan 45; Natarajan 2-34, Ajith 2-27). Lyca Kovai Kings 171 for 8 in 20 overs (A Srinaath 35, R Rohith 25; Davidson 3-35, Sumra 3-32). Patriots won by 11 runs