First, skipper Dinesh Karthik’s judicious aggression set the stage. Then the bowling led by the wily L. Balaji took Tuti Patriots, defending 164, to the brink of a win against Chepauk Super Gillies in the inaugural India Cements-TNPL Twenty20 match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Wednesday.
The chasing side was 92 for eight in the 17th over with only the formalities left to be completed.
Chepauk Gillies was in the hunt at 51 for one in 6.3 overs before losing the plot. A flurry of wickets saw the sideslump to 63 for six.
Yo Mahesh, a busy batsman down the order, could not find his batting rhythm at the top of the innings. Hewas bowled by left-arm spinner Aushik Srinivas for 14.
Crucially for Tuti Patriots, Super Gillies captain R. Sathish, was dismissed without scoring, picked up atmid-off after experienced seamer L. Balaji altered his pace.
The wily Balaji soon cleaned up B. Rahul and Super Gillies was in serious trouble.
Only Thalaivan Sargunam (29, 21b, 3x4, 1x6) batted with aggression and intent before being caught at cover offmedium pacer Akash Sumra.
For Patriots, Dinesh Karthik (67 not out, 49b, 3x4, 4x6) batted with a combination of flair and circumspection as his team reached a combative 164 for five after electing to bat. Between bigger strokes, he worked the ball around cleverly.
The odd delivery tended to stop in the pitch and batting, even in this hectic format, demanded a measureof application.
The Tuti Patriots captain reached a well deserved half century (off 42 balls) with a thumping strike overmid-wicket off paceman Tamil Kumaran.
Karthik picked his bowler and spots towards the end of the innings, pulling and smashing with eye andbat-speed on the leg-side.
In the most productive partnership of the innings, Karthik and U. Sushil added 47 for the fourthwicket in 38 deliveries.
