Dindigul Dragons pull off a heist, secure playoff berth

A 61-run fourth-wicket partnership (49 balls) between left-handers Maan K. Baafna (38, 28b, 4×4, 1×6) and Vimal Khumar (45, 31b, 4×4, 1×6), and Hunny Saini’s fiery 37 (14b, 3×4, 3×6) helped Dindigul
Dragons pull off a heist against Nellai Royal Kings (NRK) by four wickets and secure a playoff berth in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) at the Chennai Super Kings ground here on Thursday.

With this result, Idream Tiruppur Tamizhans also qualified for the playoffs. SKM Salem Spartans, Trichy Grand Cholas, Nellai Royal Kings, and Siechem Madurai Panthers will be the four teams in contention for the fourth playoff spot, with Chepauk Super Gillies having already qualified.

Vimal hit back-to-back boundaries through covers off medium-pacer Ajay Krishna and a straight six off leg-spinner B. Rocky, and reverse-slapped a four to the third man boundary off left-arm spinner Sachin Rathi.

After Vimal fell, Hunny upped the ante. He lofted a four to extra-cover and pulled a six to fine-leg off Rocky. With 45 to win off 24 balls, he smashed a six to deep-midwicket off a no-ball and deposited the subsequent free hit for a six to long on off medium-pacer Sonu Yadav.

Earlier, left-hander N.S. Harish (43 n.o., 20b, 4×4, 3×6) and Sonu Yadav (39 n.o., 24b, 3×4, 2×6) got Royal Kings to 179 for six with an unbroken 80-run seventh-wicket stand (37 balls).

The scores: Nellai Royal Kings 179/6 in 20 overs (Sonu Yadav 39 n.o., N.S. Harish 43 n.o., Periyasamy 2/45, R. 
Ashwin 2/23, Varun Chakaravarthy 2/27) lost to Dindigul Dragons 180/6 in 18.4 overs (Maan K. Bafna 38, Vimal Khumar 45, Hunny Saini 37, B. Rocky 2/39). Toss: Royal Kings.

Saturday’s matches (in Dindigul): Chepauk Super Gillies vs Siechem Madurai Panthers (3.15 p.m.); Lyca Kovai
Kings vs SKM Salem Spartans (7.15 p.m.).