Opener Lokeshwar’s finest rating in TNPL (90 n.o, 57b, 5×4, 5×6) and leg-spinner R. Divakar’s three for 16 helped Lyca Kovai Kings (LKK) beat Nellai Royal Kings (NRK) by 67 runs in a Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) match at the Chennai Super Kings floor right here on Saturday.
Chasing 166, NRK folded for 98 at hand LKK its first win of the season.
Earlier, LKK posted 165 for six, having been put in to bat. The new-ball swing and the wind blowing throughout the floor all through the innings made run-scoring tough. Left-hander B. Sachin (10) slog-swept left-arm spinner Sachin Rathi towards the wind for S.R. Athish to pouch it at deep midwicket. Andre Siddarth (duck) hit towards the wind off Rathi too, skipping down the pitch to the second ball he confronted to gap out to Muhammed Adnan Khan, who ran in from lengthy off.
Only skipper Shahrukh Khan (30, 25b, 2×4, 2×6) defied the wind. He pulled off-spinner B. Rocky for a six to deep sq. leg and hit a six off left-arm spinner N.S. Harish over a leaping long-off fielder, each towards the wind. He engaged in a 75-run fourth-wicket stand (off 46 balls) with Lokeshwar.
Lokeshwar ramped Yudheeswaran for a six to wonderful leg in the sixth over and slog-swept a slot ball for a six to deep midwicket off the similar bowler in the twentieth over. He additionally ramped Cherian for a six to wonderful leg and slog-swept Rathi with the wind for a six to deep midwicket. On reaching his fifty off 39 balls, he danced down the observe and hoisted Rathi for a straight six.
The scores: Lyca Kovai Kings 165/6 in 20 overs (S. Lokeshwar 90 n.o, Shahrukh Khan 30, Sonu Yadav 2/16, Sachin Rathi 2/25) bt Nellai Royal Kings 98 in 17.5 overs (P. Bhuvaneswaran 2/9, M. Siddharth 2/16, R. Divakar 3/16, N. Kabilan 2/26). Toss: Royal Kings.
Sunday’s matches: SKM Salem Spartans vs Dindigul Dragons (3.15 p.m.); Siechem Madurai Panthers vs Idream Tiruppur Tamizhans (7.15 p.m.).