logo
Aparajith sizzles as Super Gillies edges Grand Cholas in a thriller

Aparajith sizzles as Super Gillies edges Grand Cholas in a thriller

The Hindu6 hours ago

Skipper B. Aparajith top-scored with 63 (40b, 1x4, 7x6) and stitched a 106-run third-wicket stand (68 balls) with Vijay Shankar (59, 46b, 6x4, 1x6) as Chepauk Super Gillies (CSG) beat Trichy Grand Cholas (TGC) by four runs in a thriller in their Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) match at the Chennai Super Kings ground here on Monday.
Vijay Shankar's was a streaky, struggling innings in contrast to Aparajith's assured knock. Aparajith smashed seven sixes - one straight off left-arm spinner Ganesh Moorthi, and six on the leg side. He hit medium-pacer Easwaran for back-to-back sixes to long- on, and pulled left-arm spinner Sanjay Yadav for two sixes to deep midwicket in the same over.
Vijay Shankar, on the other hand, was dropped on 13 by Waseem Ahmed at deep midwicket off medium-pacer Rajkumar. He edged three fours and failed to connect at least four times. He brought up his maiden TNPL fifty with authority, though, hitting a slower ball wide of long on for a six off Easwaran.
The 82-run second-wicket partnership between captain J. Suresh Kumar (63, 40b, 6x4, 2x6) and J. Kousik (45, 33b, 2x4, 3x6) was the highlight of Grand Cholas' 179-run chase. The duo struck three sixes in an over off left-arm spinner Aushik Srinivas - both hitting to deep midwicket once, besides Kousik hitting to long on.
CSG medium-pacer Prem Kumar (three for 42) accounted for both of them, getting Kousik bowled while Suresh Kumar holed out to Dinesh Raj at deep midwicket. CSG's debutant left-arm seamer Rohith Suthar successfully defended 11 in the last over.
The scores: Chepauk Super Gillies 178/5 in 20 overs (B. Aparajith 63, Vijay Shankar 59) bt Trichy Grand Cholas 174/7 in 20 overs (J. Suresh Kumar 63, J. Kousik 45, Prem Kumar 3/42). Toss: Grand Cholas.
Tuesday's match: Lyca Kovai Kings vs Idream Tiruppur Tamizhans (7.15 p.m.).

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Aparajith sizzles as Super Gillies edges Grand Cholas in a thriller
Aparajith sizzles as Super Gillies edges Grand Cholas in a thriller

The Hindu

time6 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Aparajith sizzles as Super Gillies edges Grand Cholas in a thriller

Skipper B. Aparajith top-scored with 63 (40b, 1x4, 7x6) and stitched a 106-run third-wicket stand (68 balls) with Vijay Shankar (59, 46b, 6x4, 1x6) as Chepauk Super Gillies (CSG) beat Trichy Grand Cholas (TGC) by four runs in a thriller in their Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) match at the Chennai Super Kings ground here on Monday. Vijay Shankar's was a streaky, struggling innings in contrast to Aparajith's assured knock. Aparajith smashed seven sixes - one straight off left-arm spinner Ganesh Moorthi, and six on the leg side. He hit medium-pacer Easwaran for back-to-back sixes to long- on, and pulled left-arm spinner Sanjay Yadav for two sixes to deep midwicket in the same over. Vijay Shankar, on the other hand, was dropped on 13 by Waseem Ahmed at deep midwicket off medium-pacer Rajkumar. He edged three fours and failed to connect at least four times. He brought up his maiden TNPL fifty with authority, though, hitting a slower ball wide of long on for a six off Easwaran. The 82-run second-wicket partnership between captain J. Suresh Kumar (63, 40b, 6x4, 2x6) and J. Kousik (45, 33b, 2x4, 3x6) was the highlight of Grand Cholas' 179-run chase. The duo struck three sixes in an over off left-arm spinner Aushik Srinivas - both hitting to deep midwicket once, besides Kousik hitting to long on. CSG medium-pacer Prem Kumar (three for 42) accounted for both of them, getting Kousik bowled while Suresh Kumar holed out to Dinesh Raj at deep midwicket. CSG's debutant left-arm seamer Rohith Suthar successfully defended 11 in the last over. The scores: Chepauk Super Gillies 178/5 in 20 overs (B. Aparajith 63, Vijay Shankar 59) bt Trichy Grand Cholas 174/7 in 20 overs (J. Suresh Kumar 63, J. Kousik 45, Prem Kumar 3/42). Toss: Grand Cholas. Tuesday's match: Lyca Kovai Kings vs Idream Tiruppur Tamizhans (7.15 p.m.).

Spin dominance behind Tushar Raheja's rise
Spin dominance behind Tushar Raheja's rise

Time of India

time7 hours ago

  • Time of India

Spin dominance behind Tushar Raheja's rise

CHENNAI: Five matches in, and Tushar Raheja hasn't missed a beat. With scores of 80, 74, 65*, 79 and 40 in Tiruppur Tamizhans' first five games this TNPL season, the southpaw has become the cynosure of all eyes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This purple patch hasn't come out of nowhere. Tushar, who joined Tiruppur in 2021, started to see an upward trajectory last season. He finished as the league's second-highest run-scorer and earned his Tamil Nadu debut soon after. For the 24-year-old from Chennai, that was the season things began to click. Tushar saw it as a breakthrough season. Not just because of the runs, but it also helped him understand his T20 game better. 'After the last season, I think I have really learnt a lot about myself and how my game is in terms of T20. I have learnt how to pace my innings better and understand what is working and what is not. So, ahead of this season, I tried to build on that and worked on the areas where I was lacking last year,' Tushar told TOI. Tushar went on to spend hours sharpening his game against spin, an area he felt he had to improve. 'I worked on playing spin better. And, generally, I would always do well in the powerplay, but after those six overs were done, I would slow down, and my strike rate would drop. I wanted to see how I can keep that momentum going even after the powerplay. So, I did a lot of drills against spin and worked on my technique with my coach, TV Ram Kumar, in Ambattur. And mentally, I have done a lot of work,' said the opening batter. While those sessions were focused on fine-tuning his game, there was also a flicker of hope that it might open bigger doors. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He had his eye on the IPL, like any young player would. He attended trials for a few teams, but the call never came. 'I did really well in the trials. So obviously, as a human being, somewhere down there, that expectation is there. But I knew, it being my first breakout year in TNPL, I didn't want to have too many expectations. When I didn't get picked (in IPL), I wasn't heartbroken as such. I tried to take it as a positive. I wanted to make sure last year was just the starting point. I wanted to do much better this year, I had that hunger in me,' said Tushar. The wicketkeeper-batter took the snub in his stride and used the miss as motivation. And, that positive intent shows in his batting. In his recent sterling knocks, Tushar has batted with flair, stepping out with ease and hitting the ball with a sense of freedom that doesn't look reckless. 'I'm someone who likes to play very positively, and I like taking the attack to the bowlers. So even in the longest format, it's not like I curb my instincts too much. I like to express myself there as well. So, I feel that is the way I've grown up batting naturally. That is who I am as a person. I feel when my instincts take over, it is best for me, and I think that is my biggest strength.' Tushar, who plays for Alwarpet CC in the TNCA first-division league, wants to establish himself as a red-ball player as well. 'I have not done that well in the TNCA first-division league to get a TN call-up in the longest format. But I really want to prove myself in the red-ball format as well.'

Key is to keep fast bowlers fit through the year: Kumaran
Key is to keep fast bowlers fit through the year: Kumaran

The Hindu

time10 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Key is to keep fast bowlers fit through the year: Kumaran

For more than a decade, former India pacer T. Kumaran has been in the United States, building an extensive coaching resume that includes stints with the USA senior and under-19 teams, as well as training kids. Now, the 49-year-old is back to his roots in Tamil Nadu and was appointed as the senior team's bowling coach last month. 'I am excited to be back in TN. I have worked closely with Robin Singh (currently a TNCA Consultant) in USA cricket, and when he broached this idea, I was happy at the chance to be a part of a professional set-up,' said Kumaran about his new role. 'I have always dreamed of winning the Ranji Trophy, but during my playing days, we only reached the semifinals. Now, as a coach, I hope to help TN achieve that.' Over the last fortnight, Kumaran has been closely watching the players in the ongoing TNPL in preparation for the upcoming season and is pleased by the fast bowling stock he has seen so far. 'One thing that has stood out so far is that the quicks are fitter and taller than what we used to have during my time. I have been observing how they are bowling in different situations and conditions. At the same time, I also want to see how they fare in the TNCA first division because that will be crucial and whether they can bowl long spells.' Explaining what his focus areas will be, he said: 'The main thing is to keep the fast bowlers fit through the year with emphasis on good recovery and workload management. Running fitness is a key to that. We also need to have a good bench strength, which is important to win the Ranji Trophy.' Kumaran, who played eight ODIs for India (1999-2000), said: 'I did not have a long international career. Now, I want to share my knowledge with these boys and develop them so that they can have that. We have had an R. Ashwin, who took more than 500 Test wickets, and I want to develop more cricketers like him.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store