And that's it from us here, join us again tomorrow for the second double-header of this year's TNPL, this time from Dindigul. Until then, it's goodbye.
Karaikudi Kaalai beat Chepauk Super Gillies by 47 runs
For the third game in a row, Chepauk Super Gillies couldn't chase the target and that means that they registered their third successive loss in TNPL 2018. This time, it was because of a masterclass from the Kaalai captain and a poor effort with the ball that gave Shajahan the opportunity to help his side to an above-par score. Once they lost captain Gopinath, the chase was all but over and they have M Ashwin to thank for ensuring that the quantum of loss was under 50.
FREE-HIT. But all the batsman could do is just take a single to long off. Anti-climax of the highest order. That means Super Gillies need just 49 to win off the last ball.
Two overs to go, 68 needed for Super Gillies to avoid registering their third successive loss in TNPL 2018. Here's Mohan Prasath to complete his spell.
A missed run-out, dropped catch and a full toss that should have been called a no ball but that wasn't. That was the story of the 18th over from Yo Mahesh that went for just four runs.
DROPPED! Yo Mahesh comes back into the attack and almost gets a wicket off the second ball. But he can only get a hand on a strong drive down the ground from Ashwin.
Ashwin is trying his best to improve Super Gillies' net run rate but even he hasn't been able to get a few over the ropes. Just five came off that over from Rajkumar.
OUT! Harish Kumar goes for the big one but this one just had height and no real distance and the fielder at cover settles under it and takes it comfortably in the end. Harish Kumar c Rajhamany Srinivasan b V Lakshman 11(8)
SIX! M Ashwin gets one in the slot and he just calmly slots that over long on and Lakshman, whose first over went for 14, is already off to a bad start.
SIX! Harish just walkd down the track and lofts one over long on. Super Gillies will need a few more of those if they are to even get close to the target. Still just nine runs off that over
OUT! Gopinath departs for 47 and is that the game for the Super Gillies? He wants to accelerate and goes for the slog sweep but only gets a feather on it to the keeper. Gopinath c R Kavin b Maan Bafna 47(38)
RUN-OUT! Absolute chaos and lack of communication means that Karthik has to depart. That was short and wide and hit straight to the fielder at deep cover. There was never two there but Karthik was convinced there is. Gopinath doesn't return the favor and a good throw means that Karthik is out by a mile
Nine runs came off that over but a beautifully flighted ball from Bafna almost got rid of S Karthik off the last ball. The run rate continues to climb.
SIX! What a shot from S Karthik. First ball he faces and he calmly places that over wide long on. What a way to get off the mark. With the required rate creeping over 12, that was a much-needed maximum for the Super Gillies.
A couple of run-out chances for the Kaalai in that over. Both times, a direct hit would have resulted in a wicket but they will be happy that they broke that third partnership. Just five runs came off that over.
OUT! Sasidev has to depart and a crucial wicket there. That was full and wide and the southpaw picks out the sweeper at cover who takes a simple catch to break the partnership. Sasidev c Aditya b Rajkumar 23(19)
This is not good news if you are a Super Gillies fan as captain Gopinath is asking for some medical attention. Not sure if that is a back or a hip issue but the Super Gillies will want that to be nothing more than some minor issue.
From early trouble, the fifty partnership between Gopinath and Sasidev has rescued the hosts but they still have a long way to go if they are to come out on top in this game as the run rate creeps up above 11.
FREE-HIT coming up and this is already a massive over for the Super Gillies. That was a wide and that the FREE-HIT remains. Already 10 runs off three balls in this over.
Back-to-back boundaries from Sasidev who plays two cracking cut shots and that immediately brings the crowd to its feet. And that is followed by a NO BALL from Lakshman.
Back-to-back boundaries from Gopinath in that over and the Super Gillies finally gain some momentum. 12 came off that over but their run rate is still only 6, well below the required rate.
FOUR! Gopinath says enough is enough and just launches one over mid-on. So far, he has three boundaries and it looked as though all three were going to be sixes but the third umpire says this one hit the ropes on the half volley and it is just a four.
Another tight over from Mohan Prasath and this one produced a wicket and Kaalai are dominating the proceedings so far but the two best Super Gillies batsmen are now at the crease.
OUT! The experiment has failed. Sunny Singh goes for a 10-ball 2. He tries to go for a big shot again and misses a ball that was darted into the off stump. Sunny Kumar b Mohan Prasath 2(10)
SIX! That is the difference between a front-line batsman and a pinch hitter. That was short and on the pads. While Sunny Singh played out a maiden off the previous over to similar balls, Gopinath just pulls that behind deep square leg for his second six of the innings.
Yo Mahesh has done his job early so far. He has swung the new ball, made the batsmen think twice about hitting him and kept the runs down. He almost picked up a second wicket in his second over as well.
DROPPED! Maan Bafna misjudges that and that should have been Sunny Singh back in the pavilion for a 7-ball duck. Instead they sneak a single and he is off the mark.
SIX! Just a little short and Gopinath starts with a six over fine leg. He was always looking for the pull and this time he got all of it and gets Super Gillies' first runs off the bat and what a way to do that.
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