TNPL | Sensational Surya wins it for Madurai Panthers

Surya troubled the batters with his pace and accuracy at the death.
| Photo Credit: E. LAKSHMI NARAYANAN

Left-arm pacer Surya Anand’s incredible over — four wickets off five deliveries, including a hat-trick — swung the contest in Siechem Madurai Panthers’ favour in a TNPL match at the Salem Cricket Foundation ground here on Wednesday.

Nellai Royal Kings needed 11 in two overs when Surya marked his run-up. He castled Sonu Yadav off the first ball and performed the ’trick by sending back V. Yudheeswaran, Sachin Rathi and Emmanuel Cherian off the third, fourth and fifth deliveries. That Surya castled three of the four batters made it all the more memorable.

Before the Surya show, K.B. Arun Karthik (67, 43b, 7×4, 3×6) had waged a lone battle for the Nellai side. Panthers’ bowlers had the Royal Kings on a leash for most 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 before a late onslaught from Gurjapneet Singh (24, 8b, 3×6) and P. Saravanan (16 n.o., 10b, 2×6) lifted it to 168 for nine.

For the third day running, rain made an appearance, delaying the start by 35 minutes. But once play began, Panthers, after being asked to bat, were pushed onto the back foot immediately.

Opener Ram Arvindh fell to pacer Cherian.

The pressure mounted quickly as Rocky struck twice, removing N.S. Chaturved and S. Shyam Sundar, leaving Panthers struggling at 26 for three after four overs.

Atheeq Ur Rahman then joined opener B. Anirudh as the pair looked to stabilise the innings. Atheeq broke the shackles to hit the first six of the match in the ninth over.

The duo cut loose against offie P.S. Nirmal Kumar. Anirudh launched two sixes and Atheeq sent one into the deep midwicket stands as duo took 21 runs off the over, giving Panthers the much-needed momentum.

Just as the fourth-wicket stand began to look threatening, a timely switch paid off as Sonu ended the 61-run partnership by dismissing Anirudh. Atheeq, however, responded with two boundaries to keep the momentum going.

However, the night belonged to Surya.

But Sonu had the final say. Changing ends, he struck twice — first dismissing Shanker Ganesh and then the well-set Atheeq.

S. Rajalingam was run out in the next over and Mruguan Ashwin too fell soon as Panthers slumped to 125 for eight before the fightback by Gurjapneet and Saravanan. The two plundered 39 runs from the final 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 (K.B. Arun Karthik 67, Sonu Yadav 32, Gurjapneet Singh 2/23, P. Saravanan 2/31, Surya Anand 4/24, including a hat-trick, S. Rajalingam 2/22). Toss: Royal Kings.

Thursday’s match: SKM Salem Spartans vs Chepauk Super Gillies (7.15 p.m.).