Cricket

Trichy Grand Cholas emerged victorious in the third leg of the Tamil Nadu Premier League, defeating Nellai Royal Kings by four wickets at the India Cements ground in Trichy. Chasing a target of 178, the Cholas relied on crucial contributions from Jaffer Jamal (39 runs) and Shyam Sundar (31 runs) to secure the win.Nellai Royal Kings, led by skipper K.B. Arun Karthik, posted a competitive 177 for nine after being put in to bat. Karthik played a pivotal role, scoring a regal 84 runs off 51 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and two sixes. He formed crucial partnerships with Nidhish Rajagopal (38 runs) and Rithik Easwaran (48 runs) to propel the team's total.However, the Trichy Grand Cholas bowlers, led by P. Saravanakumar, kept the Royal Kings in check. Saravanakumar claimed an impressive four wickets for 34 runs, including the prized scalp of Karthik in the 19th over. Athisayaraj Davidson also chipped in with two wickets for 37 runs.In the chase, the Cholas got off to a shaky start, losing opener R.S. Mokit Hariharan in the second over and G. Ajitesh in the third. However, Jamal and Sundar steadied the innings with a 51-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Jamal's aggressive 27-ball knock included three sixes, while Sundar's 25-ball innings featured three boundaries.Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the Cholas kept their composure and chased down the target with 19.3 overs to spare. R. Rajkumar contributed a valuable 31 runs, while Antony Dhas and Saravanakumar played cameos to guide the team to victory.The win propelled the Trichy Grand Cholas to second place in the points table, while the Nellai Royal Kings remained in the bottom half of the standings.

In a thrilling encounter at the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground, Trichy Grand Cholas emerged victorious over Siechem Madurai Panthers in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). The match was a testament to the exceptional batting prowess of SalemWaseem Ahmed and Sanjay Yadav, who played pivotal roles in securing the win for their team.Ahmed, a 23-year-old opener, showcased his talent with an unbeaten 90 runs off 55 balls. His innings was characterized by seven boundaries and five towering sixes. Yadav, on the other hand, played a crucial all-round role, scoring an unbeaten 60 runs off 33 balls and claiming three wickets for 28 runs.The Cholas' batting innings got off to a slow start, with the team scoring only 69 runs in the first 10 overs. However, Ahmed and Yadav turned the tide with their explosive partnership, adding an unbeaten 126 runs for the third wicket. Their aggressive approach left the Panthers' bowlers helpless as they smashed the ball to all corners of the ground.In response, the Panthers' chase was led by skipper Hari Nishaanth, who scored a valiant 39 runs off 20 balls. However, the team's hopes were dashed when Nishaanth suffered a cramp and was forced to retire. The Panthers' batting lineup struggled to keep up with the required run rate, and they eventually fell short by 67 runs.Sanjay Yadav's all-round performance was particularly impressive. His three wickets, including the crucial dismissal of Nishaanth, played a significant role in restricting the Panthers' chase. Yadav's ability to contribute both with the bat and ball made him a key player for the Cholas.The victory marked a significant turnaround for the Trichy Grand Cholas, who had not won a match since July 21, 2022. The team's performance was a testament to the determination and skill of their players, particularly Ahmed and Yadav.