TNPL 2023: Kovai Kings reaches final, beats Dindigul Dragons by 30 runs in Qualifier 1

Defending champion Lyca Kovai Kings reached the summit conflict of the seventh version of the TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League) with a 30-run win over Dindigul Dragons within the first qualifier right here on the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground on Friday.

Put in to bat, Kovai Kings posted a formidable 193 for seven, driving on an excellent half-century from B. Sachin (70, 46b, 7×4, 2×6). It was the younger left-hander’s second consecutive half-century, and he has slotted into the position vacated by B. Sai Sudharsan with aplomb.

In reply, Dragons’ chase by no means received going they usually misplaced half their aspect by the tenth over with simply 58 on the board. Just when it appeared prefer it was curtains for Dragons, Impact Player C. Sarath Kumar (62, 26b, 1×4, 8×6) placed on a superb show of power-hitting, racing to his half-century in simply 18 balls as he dispatched the Kovai Kings spinners exterior the park with disdain. However, Sarath was left to do an excessive amount of and a superb nineteenth over from Gowtham Thamarai Kannan, with 4 dot balls, sealed the sport for Kovai Kings.

Earlier, the 19-year-old Sachin confirmed his class with a hat-trick of boundaries off pacer G. Kishoor within the sixth over. He began by guiding one via level earlier than cracking a cover-drive after which reduce one over-slip as Kovai Kings completed the PowerPlay strongly with 57 for 2 on the board.

Sachin received a reprieve when he was on 17 when Subodh Bhati dropped a sitter off Kishoor at sq. leg, and the teen made the Dragons pay the worth for the folly as he stitched an 82-run stand with U. Mukilesh (44) for the third wicket.