In an exhilarating match at Salem on July 9, 2024, Trichy Grand Cholas emerged victorious over Siechem Madurai Panthers by a comprehensive 67-run margin in the 7th match of the Tamil Nadu Premier League. The standout performer and Player of the Match was Waseem Ahmed, who played a pivotal role with both bat and gloves, scoring an unbeaten 90 off 55 balls and taking two crucial catches.
Waseem’s crucial role as Grand Cholas emerge victorious over Siechem Madurai
Trichy Grand Cholas, batting first, posted an imposing total of 193/2 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings began shakily with opener Arjun Murthy falling for just 1 run, caught by Chaturved off Gurjapneet Singh in the very first over. However, Waseem Ahmed and S Shyam Sundar steadied the ship, putting together a valuable partnership. Shyam Sundar contributed a solid 30 off 28 balls before being dismissed by Ramadoss Alexandar.
The real fireworks came from Ahmed, who dominated the Panthers’ bowling attack, smashing 7 fours and 5 sixes to propel Trichy to a commanding position. He was well-supported by Sanjay Yadav, who played a blistering knock of 60 not out from 33 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes.
The Panthers’ bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, with Gurjapneet Singh being the only successful bowler, picking up 1 wicket for 29 runs in his 4 overs. The rest of the bowlers, including Kiran Akash and Murugan Ashwin, were unable to make significant inroads, allowing Trichy to amass a formidable total.
Chasing 194, the Siechem Madurai Panthers got off to a shaky start. Suresh Lokeshwar was dismissed early for 7, caught by Antony Dhas off Saravana Kumar. Captain Hari Nishaanth provided some hope with a quickfire 39 off 20 balls, but wickets fell at regular intervals, derailing their chase. Athisayaraj Davidson and Sanjay Yadav were particularly effective, claiming 2 and 3 wickets respectively. Davidson’s double strike removed Jagatheesan Kousik and NS Chaturved cheaply, while Yadav’s three-wicket haul included the crucial wickets of Akram Khan, Swapnil Singh, and Lokeshwar.
The Panthers’ middle and lower order crumbled under pressure, with only minor contributions from Akram Khan (11), Swapnil Singh (18), and Uthirasamy Sasidev (17). Rajkumar’s impressive spell of 3 for 9 further decimated the Panthers, who were eventually bowled out for 126 in 16.4 overs.
The match highlighted the dominance of Trichy Grand Cholas’ all-round performance, with Waseem Ahmed’s stellar batting and Sanjay Yadav’s all-round brilliance. The victory boosts Trichy’s position in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, showcasing their potential to be strong contenders in the tournament.
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