Surya troubled the batters together with his tempo and accuracy on the demise.
| Photo Credit: E. LAKSHMI NARAYANAN
Left-arm pacer Surya Anand’s unbelievable over — 4 wickets off 5 deliveries, together with a hat-trick — swung the competition in Siechem Madurai Panthers’ favour in a TNPL match on the Salem Cricket Foundation floor right here on Wednesday.
Nellai Royal Kings wanted 11 in two overs when Surya marked his run-up. He castled Sonu Yadav off the primary ball and carried out the ’trick by sending again V. Yudheeswaran, Sachin Rathi and Emmanuel Cherian off the third, fourth and fifth deliveries. That Surya castled three of the 4 batters made it all of the extra memorable.
Before the Surya present, Okay.B. Arun Karthik (67, 43b, 7×4, 3×6) had waged a lone battle for the Nellai facet. Panthers’ bowlers had the Royal Kings on a leash for most a part of the chase.
Earlier, medium-pacer Sonu’s three-wicket haul and off-spinner Rocky Bhasker’s early breakthroughs put the Madurai outfit in a spot earlier than a late onslaught from Gurjapneet Singh (24, 8b, 3×6) and P. Saravanan (16 n.o., 10b, 2×6) lifted it to 168 for 9.
For the third day operating, rain made an look, delaying the beginning by 35 minutes. But as soon as play started, Panthers, after being requested to bat, had been pushed onto the again foot instantly.
Opener Ram Arvindh fell to pacer Cherian.
The strain mounted shortly as Rocky struck twice, eradicating N.S. Chaturved and S. Shyam Sundar, leaving Panthers struggling at 26 for three after 4 overs.
Atheeq Ur Rahman then joined opener B. Anirudh because the pair regarded to stabilise the innings. Atheeq broke the shackles to hit the primary six of the match within the ninth over.
The duo lower free towards offie P.S. Nirmal Kumar. Anirudh launched two sixes and Atheeq despatched one into the deep midwicket stands as duo took 21 runs off the over, giving Panthers the much-needed momentum.
Just because the fourth-wicket stand started to look threatening, a well timed swap paid off as Sonu ended the 61-run partnership by dismissing Anirudh. Atheeq, nevertheless, responded with two boundaries to maintain the momentum going.
However, the evening belonged to Surya.
But Sonu had the ultimate say. Changing ends, he struck twice — first dismissing Shanker Ganesh after which the well-set Atheeq.
S. Rajalingam was run out within the subsequent over and Mruguan Ashwin too fell quickly as Panthers slumped to 125 for eight earlier than the fightback by Gurjapneet and Saravanan. The two plundered 39 runs from the ultimate two overs.
The scores: Siechem Madurai Panthers 168/9 in 20 overs (B. Anirudh 48, Atheeq Ur Rahman 36, Rocky Bhasker 2/24, Sonu Yadav 3/41) bt Nellai Royal Kings 158 in 18.5 overs (Okay.B. Arun Karthik 67, Sonu Yadav 32, Gurjapneet Singh 2/23, P. Saravanan 2/31, Surya Anand 4/24, together with a hat-trick, S. Rajalingam 2/22). Toss: Royal Kings.
Thursday’s match: SKM Salem Spartans vs Chepauk Super Gillies (7.15 p.m.).
Published – June 19, 2025 12:25 am IST