Pacers fashion Grand Cholas’ win against Madurai Panthers

The maximum average bounce offered by the Chennai Super Kings ground for the pacers this season came to the fore on Wednesday, as Athisayaraj Davidson (two for 33), P. Saravana Kumar (two for 27), and K. Easwaran (two for 19) roughed up Siechem Madurai Panthers (SMP) with five wickets in the PowerPlay to set up a four-wicket win for Trichy Grand Cholas (TGC) in a Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) match here.

A bruised SMP staggered its way to 131 for seven from 29 for five, courtesy of Atheeq Ur Rahman (30) and C. Sarath Kumar (37 n.o.).

Left-armer Athisayaraj and Saravana Kumar broke SMP’s spirit with a two-wicket burst each.

Opener and left-hander B. Anirudh Sita Ram (7) was caught down the leg side, and Ajay Chetan (duck) edged a fuller, outside-off Test-match delivery to first slip – both back-to-back in the second over off Athisayaraj.

Saravana Kumar had opener Ram Arvindh (14) miscue a pull off a shorter delivery to deep midwicket, and M. Ashwin (duck) caught at second slip off an outside-off Test-match delivery that pitched on a good length – both back-to-back in the sixth over.

Easwaran had captain N.S. Chaturved (4) nick a short-of-length delivery to the keeper in the third over, and a set Atheeq caught at long on in the 15th over.

But it wasn’t a straightforward chase for TGC. Medium-pacer Gowtham Thamarai Kannan (two for 16) and leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan (2/24) had it in a spot of bother on 77 for five, but R. Rajkumar (37 n.o., 15b, 1×4, 4×6) ensured that his team got home. Skipper and opener J. Suresh Kumar top-scored with 44 (36b, 7×4).

The scores: Siechem Madurai Panthers 131/7 in 20 overs (Atheeq Ur Rahman 30, Sarath Kumar 37 n.o., K. Easwaran 2/19, Athisayaraj Davidson 2/33, Saravana Kumar 2/27) lost to Trichy Grand Cholas 137/6 in 18.1 overs (Suresh Kumar 44, R. Rajkumar 37 n.o., Gowtham Thamarai Kannan 2/16, Karthik Meiyappan 2/24). Toss: Grand Cholas.

Thursday’s match: Nellai Royal Kings vs Dindigul Dragons (7.15 p.m.).