Tamil Nadu Premier League: Anirudha wins it on one leg

CHENNAI: Karaikudi Kaalai needed seven runs off five balls. Anirudha Srikkanth, on one leg, had no option but to strike it big as he couldn't move an inch. The 30-year-old, son of former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth, smashed a six upon his return after sustaining a leg injury to script a much-needed three-wicket win for Kaalai against VB Thiruvallur Veerans at the NPR College Ground, Dindigul, on Wednesday.
Chasing a competitive 168, the belligerence of Anirudha (55 no, 35 balls, 2x4s, 6x6s) and young opener K Vishal Vaidhya (29, 17 balls, 3x4s, 2x6s) handed Karaikudi the much required impetus at the top.
Southpaw Vishal set the tempo for Karaikudi in the first over smashing 15 runs off pacer Abhishek Tanwar (2/35). Anirudha wasn't behind either. He took on senior TN spinner Rahil Shah (2/35) striking him for two sixes in two consecutive overs.
Even as Vishal departed in the sixth over, after adding 54 runs for the first wicket to left-arm spinner Sanjay Yadav (1/31), Anirudha kept unleashing the big hits at frequent intervals to keep the required rate under control.
Anirudha and Karaikudi were running away with the match at the half-way mark. But Thiruvallur got fortunate for a while as Anirudha injured his leg while completing a hurried single in the 12th over. He had to limp off retired hurt with his team still needing 74 runs in 8.4 overs.
Despite cameos from hard-hitting batsmen M Shahjahan (28, 17 balls, 1x4s, 3x6s) and C Ganapthy (25, 15 balls, 2x6s), Thiruvallur kept themselves in the hunt by picking wickets at crucial junctures.
It needed an Anirudha hit over long-on off Tanwar in the final over to swing the match decisively in favour of Karaikudi. After the hit, Anirudha was in some pain but he decided to carry on and strike the winning run.
Earlier, the VB Thiruvallur Veerans couldn't make the most of the explosive start provided by their openers NS Chaturved (45) and S Siddharth (18). The right-handed opening duo added 50 runs in 5.2 overs. However, medium-pacer Sonu Yadav turned things around for Karaikudi claiming two wickets in three balls to put the brakes on Thiruvallur. A late charge from R Malolan (21, 10 balls) and Sanjay Yadav (18) ensured Thiruvallur reached 167/7 in 20 overs. However, they were short by 20 runs.
Brief scores: VB Thiruvallur Veerans 167/7 in 20 overs (NS Chaturved 45). Karaikudi Kaalai 168/7 in 19.3 overs (Anirudha Srikkanth 55 no). Karaikudi won by three wickets