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Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
R Ashwin stunned into silence in dugout after Varun Chakaravarthy cracks 10 runs in 2 balls in nerve-wracking TNPL chase
India bowler Varun Chakaravarthy is more known for his exploits with the ball, having earned the tag 'mystery' spinner over the course of his career, which even saw him break into the national side. More recently, he was part of the title-winning Champions Trophy squad, where he was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, picking up 9 wickets in just three matches. Varun Chakaravarthy smashed 10 runs in the last two balls However, on Sunday, Varun showed a different side to his cricketing prowess, helping Dindigul Dragons seal a last-ball win with the bat against SKM Salem Spartans in the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Varun held his nerves in the thrilling chase, smashing 10 runs in the last two balls as the Dragons secured a two-wicket victory. Chasing 189 runs at the Indian Cement Company Ground in Tirunelveli, Dindigul Dragons needed 11 runs to win in the last over. However, M Poiyamozhi kept Salem ahead in the contest as he dismissed M Karthik Saran on the second ball of the over, as he conceded just three runs in the first four balls. However, an unfortunate no-ball from the bowler changed the momentum. Varun launched the penultimate ball for a six over long-on, before clobbering the final one for a boundary past the infield as he sparked a euphoric celebration in the Dragons' dugout. But captain Ravichandran Ashwin was stunned into silence. Head down, hands over it, even as players celebrated around him — and then, he looked up and smiled in disbelief. Earlier in the match, Ashwin gave his side a fiery start to the chase as he clobbered 35 runs in just 14 balls, comprising five boundaries and two sixes as the Dragons scored 50 runs in the first 20 balls without any loss. Subsequent batters - Shivam Singh (34 off 24), R K Jayant (25 off 15), Hunny Saini (35 off 28) and Vimal Khumar - all chipped in with handy cameos as the defending champions secured their third win in the tournament thus far. The former India cricketer also delivered with the ball, picking three wickets for just 22 runs in four overs. Dindigul now stand third in the table with six points from five matches, behind top-placed Chepauk Super Gillies, who have already qualified for the playoffs, and IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, who have the same points as Ashwin's side, only separated by a higher net run rate. The Dragons have two more matches to play in the league stage. They next face Nellai Royal Kings in Tirunelveli on June 26, followed by Trichy Grand Cholas at home on June 29. The playoffs will begin on July 1 and the reigning champions need to win both games to secure a place in the next round.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
R. Ashwin and Varun Chakaravarthy lead Dindigul Dragons to victory over SKM Salem Spartans in TNPL.
Old warhorses R. Ashwin and Varun Chakaravarthy did the star turns for Dindigul Dragons to pip SKM Salem Spartans by two wickets in their Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) match at the Chennai Super Kings ground here on Sunday. While Ashwin picked up three for 22, all three wickets off the carrom ball, and blazed a 14-ball 36 (5x4, 2x6), Varun (13 n.o., 5b, 1x4, 1x6) surprisingly nailed the finishing act with the bat in a 189-run chase. As ten runs were needed off the last three balls off medium-pacer Poiyamozhi, Varun hit a double, and a no-ball later, smoked a six over long-on off a free hit. With just a single needed off the last ball and all the fielders having closed in, he played a lofted shot to clear the infield for a four down the ground. Ashwin added 57 runs for the first-wicket stand (24 balls) with Shivam Singh (34). The duo took 25 runs off left-arm spinner Rahil Shah in the second over, with Ashwin scoring 18 of them. He cleared the infield for a four to the covers, hit a straight six, reverse-swept for a four to deep backward point, and hoisted a long-on four. Hunny Saini (35) and Impact Player Vimal Khumar (24), who came together on 111 for five in the 12th over, weighed in with a crucial 51-run sixth-wicket union (34 balls). For Spartans, left-hander Nidhish S. Rajagopal (74, 47b, 6x4, 4x6) struck his eighth TNPL fifty and engaged in an 80-run fifth-wicket partnership with R. Vivek (35). He brought up his fifty with a slog sweep for a six to deep midwicket off Varun. Sathvik shines In the second match of the day, opener Amith Sathvik smashed an unbeaten 68 (36b, 7x4, 4x6) as Idream Tiruppur Tamizhans coasted to a nine-wicket win over Siechem Madurai Panthers. Tamizhans' collective bowling effort came to the fore as Panthers was bowled out for 120. Skipper Sai Kishore was the pick of the bowlers with two for 11. Chasing 121, Sathvik set up the win with a 91-run first-wicket stand (47 balls) with left-hander Tushar Raheja (40, 19b, 3x4, 4x6). The scores: SKM Salem Spartans 188/7 in 20 overs (Nidhish S. Rajagopal 74, R. Vivek 35, R. Ashwin 3/22) lost to Dindigul Dragons 192/8 in 20 overs (R. Ashwin 36, Shivam Singh 34, Hunny Saini 35, M. Mohammed 2/29, M. Poiyamozhi 2/35). Toss: Dragons. Siechem Madurai Panthers 120 in 20 overs (C. Sarath Kumar 31, R. Silambarasan 2/33, Sai Kishore 2/11) lost to Idream Tiruppur Tamizhans 121/1 in 10.1 overs (Amith Sathvik 68 n.o., Tushar Raheja 40). Toss: Tamizhans.
