TNPL 2019, iDKK vs SMP: Siechem Madurai Panthers look to sign off on a high against iDream Karaikudi Kaalai

Tirunelveli, August 7: Siechem Madurai Panthers will be keen to sign off their 4th Sankar Cement Tamil Nadu Twenty20 Premier League (TNPL) engagements on a high by upstaging iDream Karaikudi Kaalai at the India Cements Ltd-Sankar Nagar Ground, Tirunelveli on Thursday.

After losing two back to back matches, the defending champions made a brilliant comeback by winning three games in succession within four days to make the Playoffs cut. Their last league match against iDKK will decide whether they will finish second or third (see equation).

SMP have the same points as Chepauk Super Gillies but are placed third as they have a lower net run rate (+0.689) than CSG (+1.367).

iDKK will be playing for pride as a win will also help them avoid the last place in the standings.

The equation

Siechem Madurai Panthers (8 points, NRR 0.689): Already qualified, battling for second spot. They have to win by a big margin, 83 runs or 54 balls to spare, and then hope Chepauk Super Gillies win by a small margin of 1 run or with no balls to spare in their last match against Tuti Patriots. In such a scenario, CSG’s NRR would drop to 1.178 and SMP’s would better that.

If SMP win and CSG lose, they will finish second on account of higher points (10).

If SMP lose and CSG win, then CSG will retain their second spot on points (10) and SMP will remain in third position.

If both SMP and CSG lose, then SMP need to lose by a very narrow margin and pray CSG go down by a big margin to finish second. If SMP lose by 1 run while chasing their NRR would drop to (0.577) and if they lose with 0 balls to spare while defending it will drop to (0.585). They will then have to hope that CSG lose by either 80 runs or 70 balls to spare so that their NRR drops below 0.577.

iDream Karaikudi Kaalai(2 points, NRR -2.208): Battling to avoid last place. They have to win and hope that Ruby Trichy Warriors, who have a far better NRR (-0.506), lose against VB Kanchi Veerans in their last match but if they lose and RTW win then the latter finish on a higher position on points (6). If both lose, RTW are better placed as they have a better NRR.

Match 26:iDream Karaikudi Kaalai v Siechem Madurai Panthers

Venue:India Cements Limited-Sankar Nagar ground, Tirunelveli

When:August 8, 2019 (Thursday)

Match timings:7:15 P.M. onwards

Live on:Star Sports 3, Star Sports 1 (Tamil), Vijay Super

Head to Head: iDKK 2; SMP 1

2018 league record: iDKK fourth; SMP champions

2019 record:iDream Karaikudi Kaalai WLLLLL; SMP WLLWWW

2019 top performers: Aniruda Srikkanth 197 runs, Sunil Sam 7 wickets (iDKK); KB Arun Karthick 281 runs, Kiran Akash 11 wickets

TEAMS

iDream Karaikudi Kaalai:Aniruda Srikkanth (captain), Dinesh Karthik (WK), V Aaditya, L Surya Prakash, R Srinivasan, Maan K Bafna, M Shajahan, R Rajkumar, Yo Mahesh, S Swaminathan, Sunil Sam, V Lakshman, S Mohan Prasath, S Kishan Kumar, Ashwath Mukunthan, R Kavin, RD Ashwin Kumar.

Siechem Madurai Panthers:KB Arun Karthick, A Sarath Raj, Nilesh Subramanian (WK), P Shijit Chandran (captain), Jagatheesan Kousik, Akash Sumra, Abhishek Tanwar, Ramachandran Mithun, L Kiran Akash, Lokesh Raj, Rahil S Shah, Sabin Somatha Karnavar, MS Promoth, R Karthikeyan, Adithya Giridhar.

Umpires:K Srinivasan, JR Madanagopal; Third umpire:Rakesh Raghavan

Match referee:S Suresh

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