In a thrilling encounter at Salem during the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL 2024), the SKM Salem Spartans clinched a decisive victory over the Dindigul Dragons, winning by seven wickets with 11 balls to spare. The match was held on the night of July 8, 2024, and showcased some stellar performances, particularly from Rajendran Vivek, who was named the Player of the Match for his explosive unbeaten knock.
The Dindigul Dragons batted first and managed to post a total of 149/9 in their 20 overs. The innings began poorly for the Dragons as they lost Shivam Singh early, caught by Muhammed Adnan Khan off Sunny Sandhu’s bowling for just 2 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin followed soon, bowled by Harish Kumar for 6, leaving the team struggling at 29/2.
Vimal Khumar and Baba Indrajith then steadied the ship with a crucial partnership. Khumar played a composed innings, scoring 47 off 32 balls, including three fours and two sixes, before being run out by Vivek. Indrajith, the captain, contributed significantly with a brisk 51 off 34 balls, featuring four boundaries and two maximums, before being trapped LBW by Harish Kumar.
Despite the middle-order resistance, the Dragons kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Boopathi Kumar (8), Sarath Kumar (5), S Dinesh Raj (20), and the rest of the lower order couldn’t provide the necessary support to push the total beyond 150. Sunny Sandhu and Harish Kumar were the standout bowlers for the Spartans, each claiming two wickets, while Aushik Srinivas and M Poiyamozhi picked up a wicket apiece.
Chasing 150, the Salem Spartans got off to a solid start with S Abishiek and R Kavin putting up a 59-run opening stand. Abishiek scored a steady 28 off 26 balls, but it was Kavin who provided the early momentum with a quickfire 46 off 34 deliveries, hitting eight boundaries. His dismissal, caught behind by Indrajith off Sandeep Warrier, did not deter the Spartans.
Rajendran Vivek then took control of the chase with an outstanding innings. Coming in at number three, he played aggressively and effectively, scoring an unbeaten 51 off just 28 balls, laced with five fours and three sixes. His innings ensured that the Spartans stayed ahead of the required rate. Vishal Vaidhya contributed 15 runs off 18 balls before falling to Vignesh, but Vivek’s onslaught made sure there were no hiccups.
Muhammed Adnan Khan sealed the win with a boundary, finishing the chase in 18.1 overs. Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier managed to take a wicket each for the Dragons, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Spartans’ march to victory.
Overall, it was a comprehensive performance by the Salem Spartans, with Rajendran Vivek’s all-round efforts and a well-balanced bowling attack ensuring their triumph. The Spartans will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches, while the Dragons will need to reassess and strategize to bounce back in the tournament.
