CHENNAI: Madurai Panthers registered a comfortable seven-wicket win over Dindigul Dragons in their TNPL-6 clash at Dindigul on Thursday. Madurai rode top knocks from the in-form KB Arun Karthick (41) and an unbeaten 51 from B Anirudh to chase down Dindigul’s target of 123 with 27 balls to spare.
Madurai’s bowlers - medium-pacer Sunny Sandhu (3-11) and leg-spinner C Varun (2-14) - were instrumental in restricting Dindigul to 122-9 in the first half of play.
In pursuit of 123, Madurai lost opener Vignesh Iyer (11) early. Arun Karthick and Anirudh added 55 runs in 43 deliveries for the second wicket to keep Madurai in the hunt.
Arun’s 31-ball innings contained 7 hits to the fence. Anirudh, on the other hand, was at his fluent best. Once Arun departed, Anirudh teamed up with skipper NS Chaturved (10) and J Kousik (6 n.o.) to take Madurai past the finish line in 15.3 overs. This was Madurai's third victory in four matches.
Earlier, Sunny Sandhu bowled a tidy line and played a key role in reducing Dindigul to 56-4 in the 11th over. Skipper Hari Nishaanth (24) got off to a start but failed to make a big one as he was run out in the 10th over. Sunny was ably supported by the dependable Varun and medium-pacer R Silambarasan (1-30).
Mokit Hariharan - with his unbeaten 31-ball 43 - was the only consolation as he top-scored for Dindigul and helped them finish with a respectable total.
Brief scores: Dindigul Dragons 122-9 in 20 overs (Mokit Hariharan 43 n.o.; Sunny Sandhu 3-11, CV Varun 2-14). Siechem Madurai Panthers 126-3 in 15.3 overs (B Anirudh 51 n.o., Arun Karthick 41). Madurai won by seven wickets
