LKK VS NRK T20

Alright then, Lyca Kovai Kings have registered their first win in the first match of this Tirunelveli leg against Nellai Royal Kings. Now, we have a doubleheader on Sunday, 22nd June, where Dindigul Dragons will take on SKM Salem Spartans in the first match, which will be played at 3.15 pm IST (9.45 am GMT). And in the second match of the day, IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans will go up against Siechem Madurai Panthers at 7.15 pm IST (1.45 pm GMT). But as you know, you can join us an hour earlier for both matches for all the pre-match buildup. Until then, CHEERS! CIAO!

Suresh Lokeshwar of Lyca Kovai Kings is adjudged as the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his impressive match-winning knock of 90 runs.

Time for the Post-Match Presentations...

Earlier in the evening, Nellai asked Kovai to bat first, and it was the Suresh Lokeshwar show. The Kovai keeper-batter smashed a majestic 90 not-out off 57 balls, a knock full of clean hits, smart placements, and pure intent. He anchored the innings after early hiccups and built a 75-run partnership with his skipper Shahrukh Khan, who chipped in with a fluent 30. While wickets kept falling at the other end, Lokeshwar held firm and accelerated at the death, taking the total to 165. For Nellai, Sonu Yadav and Sachin Rathi were the only bright spots with the ball, sharing four wickets between them and keeping the innings from totally running away, but all went in vain in the end for them.

This victory gives Lyca Kovai Kings a much-needed breath of life in the tournament. They're still at the bottom of the table but have finally opened their account and shown what they're capable of. For Nellai Royal Kings, the concerns keep piling up, as that’s now three losses in five games, with only two wins to show. Their playoff hopes are quickly fading unless they find form soon.

Kovai's bowling display was a total team effort. Ramesh Divakar finished with 3/16, while Bhuvaneswaran and Siddharth picked up two wickets each, all with economy rates below five in a T20 game. Also, the Impact substitute N Kabilan struck twice, including the big wicket of Adnan Khan, sealing Nellai’s fate. The bowlers maintained relentless pressure, varied their pace, and used the conditions brilliantly. Nellai's innings never really got going, with their batters failing to stitch meaningful partnerships. From 8/1 in the second over to 98/10 in the 17th, it was a complete collapse. It was a forgettable night for Nellai, whose batting card was filled with many single-digit scores and uncertainty.

The procession continued after the halfway stage. At 43/5 in 10 overs, Nellai were staring at a near-impossible task. While Sonu Yadav fought briefly and Muhammed Adnan Khan hit a few boundaries late in the game, they were fighting a lost battle. The fielding effort from Kovai was sharp and energetic. Despite one or two missed opportunities, they were sharp overall, and not to forget about the spectacular diving effort by Guru Raghavendran at deep mid-wicket that was ruled not out by the third umpire, but the Lyca kept up the pressure in the field.

Nellai’s innings got off to a disastrous start. They were crawling at just 1 run after the first over, and the tone had been set for LKK. P Bhuvaneswaran and M Siddharth bowled tight lines and early wickets came tumbling down. At 24 for 4 after the Powerplay, the required rate had skyrocketed, and the pressure was apparent. Ramesh Divakar produced a wicket maiden to make matters worse for the chasing side, a brilliant spell that stifled any hopes Nellai had. Their skipper, Arun Karthik, struggled for rhythm, managing just 4 off 13 balls in an unusually sluggish outing.

Lyca Kovai Kings have finally roared back to life! After a disappointing start to their TNPL 2025 campaign with four straight losses, they’ve registered their first win, emphatically, by 67 runs against Nellai Royal Kings. A massive margin that not only lifts their morale but also gives a healthy improvement to their net run rate. Chasing 166 was never going to be easy, but Nellai's reply turned into a horror show as they were bundled out for just 98 in 17.5 overs. It was a game where Kovai were ahead right from the start and never loosened their grip.

OUT! DIRECT HIT! RUN OUT! And it is curtains for Cherian and Nellai Royal Kings! Ramesh Divakar spears in a yorker that tails back into the leg stump line. Emmanuel Cherian jams his bat down in time and flicks this straight to the mid-wicket fielder. Calls through his partner for a single, but he runs a bit casually, almost jogging to get to the other end and Guru Raghavendran at mid-wicket, picks the ball and releases a direct hit at the non-striker's end, with Emmanuel Cherian out by a country mile. The replay, too, confirms the same. Lyca Kovai Kings register their first win and defeat the Nellai Royal Kings by a huge margin of 67 runs.

OUT! DIRECT HIT! RUN OUT! And it is curtains for Cherian and Nellai Royal Kings! Ramesh Divakar spears in a yorker that tails back into the leg stump line. Emmanuel Cherian jams his bat down in time and flicks this straight to the mid-wicket fielder. Calls through his partner for a single, but he runs a bit casually, almost jogging to get to the other end and Guru Raghavendran at mid-wicket, picks the ball and releases a direct hit at the non-striker's end, with Emmanuel Cherian out by a country mile. The replay, too, confirms the same. Lyca Kovai Kings register their first win and defeat the Nellai Royal Kings by a huge margin of 67 runs.

Slowish bumper at an awkward height of the batter, short and on top of off, Emmanuel Cherian rises with the bounce to play the uppercut, but misses again.

Hard length, on top of middle, Emmanuel Cherian gets right behind it and punches it to cover.

This one shoots off the surface and goes over the shoulder height of the batter, short and outside off. Emmanuel Cherian leans back to play the ramp shot, but misses.

Outside off on a length, Emmanuel Cherian dabs it late to short third and sets off for a single, but is sent back by his partner. Cherian plonks the bat inside the crease before Madhava Prasad scores a direct hit from short third. Emmanuel Cherian is not happy with his partner.

Length and on the pads, nudged away by Cherian to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Length-delivery, aimed at the sticks. Emmanuel Cherian presses forward and blocks it to cover.

WIDE! Too short and goes over the head height. Emmanuel Cherian ducks under it. Called a wide.