TNPL 2021: Kousik powers Madurai Panthers; find player of the match and all match awards

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The experienced opener KB Arun Karthick (22 off 26 balls, 3 fours) set the tone early but Dindigul pacers R Suthesh (2-12) and R Vivek (2-21) made life difficult for Madurai by dismissing three batsmen for 35 runs in 7.1 overs.

But Kousik in the company of captain NS Chaturved (18 not out off 17 balls, 1 four) reined in the innings with a 43-run stand off 37 balls for the fourth wicket. Kousik did bulk of the scoring while Chaturved was content playing an able ally.

Kousik revealed he was prepared for the situation since the pitch was helpful to the bowlers. “I expected this situation to arise as the wicket was doing a bit. I was prepared to go in early and when I went in, the runs were hard to get. But I knew that if I took the game deep, it would become better. So being aggressive helped me,” said the Coimbatore cricketer.

It was a disappointing start for Dindigul’s new captain R Srinivasan but the 36-year-old from Kancheepuram was confident his side will bounce back.

Earlier, the Dindigul innings failed to get going after they were put into bat by the Madurai captain. The Madurai pace attack led by the experienced pacers Rohit Ramalingam (3-19), Kousik (3-23) and R Silambarasan (2-18) did most of the damage to restrict Dindigul to 96 in 18.5 overs.

The bowlers stuck to a plan, denying the space and width to the rival batsmen and their fielders complementing them by taking smart catches.

Dindigul’s mercurial opener C Hari Nishaanth (19 off 24 balls, three fours) started well by leading the charge as he raised 25 runs in 23 balls for the opening wicket. But once his partner S Arun (7) was claimed by pacer Kiran Akash, Dindigul lost way, losing three wickets, including that of Nishaanth edging pacer Rohit Mahalingam behind the wicket to Arun Karthick, for the addition of just 15 runs.

Kousik was at the centre of creating the dents in the Dindigul innings claiming two of the three wickets to fall and then nipping a partnership in the bud by dismissing RS Mokit Hariharan (11).

Wicketkeeper K Mani Bharathy (26 off 23 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) and R Vivek (11 off 13 balls, 2 fours) tried to stem the rot but to no avail. Silambarasan claimed both the wickets in his final over and it was all downhill from thereon.

Rohit Ramalingam and Kiran Akash (2-14) ensured Madurai had a modest target to chase by running through the tail.

Brief scores: Dindigul Dragons: 96 in 18.5 overs (C Hari Nishaanth 19, K Mani Bharathy 26; R Rohit 3-19, Kiran Akash L 2-14, R Silambarasan 2-18, J Kousik 3-23) lost to Madurai Panthers: 97-4 in 15 overs (K.B. Arun Karthick 22, J. Kousik 31, N.S Chaturved 18*; R. Suthesh 2-12, R. Vivek 2-21) by 6 wickets.

Match Awards:

Koo App Most Number of 6s: J Kousik (SMP)

Shriram Most Number of 4s: C Hari Nishanth (DD) K.B. Arun Karthick (SMP)

Dream 11 Game Changer of the Match: R Rohit (SMP)

Upstox Most Valuable Player of the Match: R Silambarasan (SMP)

BKT Tires- Commander of the Match: L Kiran Akash (SMP)

Shriram Capital Player of the Match: J Kousik (SMP)