TNPL 2016: Veerans thrash Warriors at Tirunelveli

Baba Aparajith-led VB Thiruvallur Veerans registered a comprehensive victory over the Ruby Kanchi Warriors by 42 runs in their India Cements TN Premier League match at the India Cements Limited Ground, Sankarnagar, Tirunelveli, on Monday.

Aparajith’s fireworks lit up the festive mood in the district as the younger twin came out victorious in the battle of the ‘Babas'.

After electing to bat first, the Veerans lost a wicket off the second delivery of the match when Govindaraj nicked M Prabhu (2 for 42) delivery to the keeper. Aparajith, coming in at one down, started from where he left at Natham against Karaikudi Kaalai.

He settled in with two boundaries straight down the ground even as NS Chaturved was happy playing the second fiddle. Aparajith (91) looked unstoppable as he brought up his half-century with a six off a pull over mid-wicket. Both of them raced to the 100-run partnership in 59 deliveries as the Warriors ran out of ideas.

After hit a crisp half-century off 31 deliveries, Chaturved (53) got out while trying to hit an inside-out shot. He managed to hit the ball straight to Sharukh Khan at long-off. Soon after, Aparajith fell after being foxed by A Prathiban delivery when he was stumped by Warriors wicketkeeper Nilesh Subramanian. The duo added 145 runs in 86 deliveries, which is the highest partnership in this league.

After the platform was set, fireworks from Sanjay Yadav (24) and Malolan Rangarajan (27 not out) ensured the Veerans posted the highest score in the tournament.

The Warriors got off to a flying start with Bharath Shankar (26) donning the role of the aggressor. Going strongly at eight-and-a-half runs per over, Warriors lost the wicket of Bharath against the run of play, courtesy a direct hit from Abhishek Tanwar.

Veerans would have had another, but the wicketkeeper Govindaraj made a mess of an easy stumping Nilesh Subramanian (38) off Samuel. But soon after, Samuel picked (3/27) both Indrajith and Nilesh in the same over after which the Warriors lost the plot.

With the required run rate crossing the 15-run mark, Shahrukh tried to accelerate in the death overs when R Rohith picked up two wickets off consecutive deliveries. Akkil Srinaath hit few out of the park but it was never going to be enough.

Brief scores: VB Thiruvallur Veerans 206 for 4 (Baba Aparajith 91, 54b, 9x4, 4x6, NS Chaturved 53, 34b, 3x4, 3x6, Murthy Prabhu 2/42, Akkil Srinaath 1/23) beat Ruby Kanchi Warriors 164 for 9 (Nilesh Subramanian 38, 31b, 2x4, 1x6, Bharath Shankar 26, 19b, 2x4, 2x6, R Rohit 3/24, Samuel 3/27) by 42 runs.