CHENNAI: In a low-scoring TNPL 6 encounter, Tiruppur Tamizhans registered a 53-run win over Madurai Panthers at Salem on Wednesday night. Left-hander Maan Bafna's 34-ball 40 was instrumental in Tiruppur finishing on 129-7 before their bowlers took centre stage and dismissed Madurai for 76.
Defending a modest total, Tiruppur medium-pacers Aswin Crist (3-13) and M Mohammed (1-13) did the early damage. They left Madurai reeling at 30 for 4 by the end of Powerplay overs. The situation went from bad to worse as the Madurai batsmen failed to apply themselves and their scoreboard read 45 for 7 by the 12th over.
The slow-ball bowlers ---leggie S Manigandan (1-15) and left-arm spinner Mohan Prasath (2-15) and medium-pacer R Rajkumar (1-15) too played their parts to perfection. While the top-order failed to come to the party, Madurai No. 8 Sunny Sandhu (17, 1x4, 1x6) tried to make a match out of it towards the end but once he departed, Madurai's innings soon ended.
Earlier, Madurai medium-pacer L Kiran Akash (3-18) was spot on as he accounted for Tiruppur skipper S Anirudha (4), R Rajkumar (10) in his first spell and then got rid of Suresh Kumar (9) in his second. A majority of Tiruppur batsmen got starts but failed to last long. Maan Bafna was the only batsman to offer resistance to Madurai's bowling. He held the innings together with his 34-ball innings that contained three fours and a six. With Bafna not receiving much support from the other end --- Tiruppur only finished with a modest total.
Apart from Kiran, leg-spinner C Varun (1-19), medium-pacer R Silambarasan (1-26), P Saravanan (1-19) and J Kousik (1-11) were among wickets.
Brief scores: Tiruppur Tamizhans 129-7 in 20 overs (M Bafna 40 n.o.; Kiran Akash 3-18). Madurai Panthers 76 in 17.2 overs (Sunny Sandhu 17, Aswin Crist 3-13, Mohan Prasath 2-15). Tiruppur won by 53 runs
