When the stress is excessive, the aspect that retains its nerve crosses the road. Needing 31 off the ultimate two overs, SKM Salem Spartans pulled off a surprising four-wicket win over IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, because of unbeaten cameos from Harish Kumar (23, 12b, 1×4, 2×6) and Boopathi Vaishna Kumar (19, 11b, 2×4) in a TNPL match on the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground right here on Friday.
Pacer A. Esakkimuthu conceded 25 runs off the penultimate over which included two fours, a six and 4 no-balls as the sport swung in Salem’s favour.
Chasing 178, left-arm seamer T. Natarajan gave Tiruppur an ideal begin, dismissing opener Hari Nishaanth off the second ball of the innings. When skipper S. Abishiek left early, Salem slipped to 27 for two.
Nidhish Rajagopal and R. Kavin rebuilt the innings. Just as their 65-run third-wicket stand started to shift the momentum, skipper R. Sai Kishore struck within the thirteenth over, dismissing Kavin. R. Vivek fell cheaply.
Nidhish switched gears, smashing Esakkimuthu for a six and two fours earlier than falling to R. Silambarasan, leaving Salem reeling at 116 for 5. However, the unbroken 45-run seventh-wicket stand between the
Kumars — Harish and Boopathi — helped Spartans pull off a heist.
Earlier, after being requested to bat below overcast situations, opener Tushar Raheja (74, 28b, 8×4, 5×6) continued his red-hot type and hammered the season’s quickest half-century (16b). He plundered 21 off left-arm spinner Rahil Shah within the fifth over.
When Tushar perished whereas making an attempt to tackle Hari Nishaanth, Spartans capitalised and restricted Tiruppur
to 177 for eight. Then got here the scorching chase.
The scores: IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 177/8 in 20 overs (Tushar Raheja 74, M. Mohammed 2/27, M.
Poiyamozhi 3/29) misplaced to SKM Salem Spartans 178/6 in 19.5 overs (Nidhish Rajagopal 69, R. Kavin 32, T. Natarajan 2/28, R. Silambarasan 2/26). Toss: Spartans.
Published – June 14, 2025 12:26 am IST
