SS VS CSG MATCH 17

Thank you, Salem! You have been a wonderful host and the TNPL will be eager to have you again, for the next season. For now, the caravan takes a day's break and shifts to Tirunelveli, where we shall have the next set of 7 games. Hopefully, the rain does not arrive there. Nellai Royal Kings and Lyca Kovai Kings inaugurate the Tirunelveli leg on Saturday, 21st June, 2025. The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 7.15 pm IST (1345 GMT) but our buildup will begin well in advance. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

That ends the action from Game 17. CSG are running away from everyone else and their next aim will be to have a flawless league stage. They next take on Trichy Grand Cholas on Monday, 23rd June, 2025. On the other hand, SKM Salem Spartans have suffered their second straight loss. They stay on second place but with as many as 4 teams breathing down their neck at 4 points, they need to get back to winning ways. Their next challenge is against Dindigul Dragons, on Sunday, 22nd June, 2025.

The victorious skipper of Chepauk Super Gillies, BABA APARAJITH, is very happy to see his side become the first team to qualify for the playoffs. Adds that every win in this season has been comfortable and in every match someone or the other is stepping up. On his hamstring, Aparajith says it is better but adds that with 3 days of rest, it should be fine. On the team's consistent allround performance through the season, Baba says that the squad has worked well in the off season with the support staff and credits the management. Also, he adds, on the field, the players have made some good tactical decisions. On his bowling and fielding changes, BA agrees that it comes down to experience but adds that some of it comes through help from the dressing room as well. Stresses that one can plan a lot but needs co-ordination and sync with his bowlers and other players. On any point for improvement, Baba Aparajith says that there is always room for improvement after every match. Cites an example by saying that in this game, his team could not bowl well in the death overs, so can work on it. Ends by saying that the Chepauk openers put on a solid stand and that kept them in good stead for the win.

Chepauk Super Gillies' PREM KUMAR HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his wonderful bowling figures of 4-0-19-3. On being informed that this is his FIRST Player-Of-The-Match award in the TNPL, Prem says that he is very happy to achieve this. On his sync with skipper Baba Aparajith on getting more overs, Kumar is happy that his skipper trusts him to bowl in the middle overs and puts it down to the reason of his success. On his attempted back-of-the-hand slower ball, almost like a leg spinner during the match, Prem states that it was the first time he tried that and is happy to have managed to execute it well. Agrees that the players are always working hard to try and make the ball aid reverse swing.

The skipper of SKM Salem Spartans, Abishiek Selvakumar, says that Salem lost the game in the Powerplay of the second innings. Feels that had his side contained the runs, the team might have won. On any specific changes to the pitch in the run chase, Selvakumar denies it, saying that the pitch played the same in the second innings, adding that his own bowlers could have bowled better. On the strategy to get back to winning ways, Abishiek says that the team now has a two-day break and will aim to come back hard post the break. On the message to his team for a quick turnaround, AS says that the players have to go for the win and keep trying hard. On the points to work upon for the next clash, Abishiek Selvakumar points at the bowling department and middle-overs batting.

Tough outing for the SKM Salem Spartans bowlers. They just could not land the ball in one area consistently and seemed to get fazed by the consistent hitting. As many as 8 bowlers were used and only Rahil Shah and M Mohammed seemed to give any kind of trouble to the opposition. But overall, a game to forget for the Spartans.

Come the run chase, Chepauk Super Gillies had their aim sorted out. They looked to attack the new ball and hammered 71 runs in the Powerplay, without losing a single wicket. That blistering start set the platform for the win, as K Aashiq tore into the Salem bowlers. He was supported well by RS Mokit Hariharan as the duo added 73 for the opening wicket. But if Salem thought that was a door opening for a comeback, Narayan Jagadeesan stormed out and blasted 50 from 25 balls, to literally kill the contest. Aashiq managed to get to his half century as well. In short, the top 3 won the chase for the 4-time champions.

Inspirational captaincy from Baba Aparajith. His bowlers struggled to pick up wickets with the new ball but came back strongly in the middle overs, as they conceded just 46 runs and picked up 4 wickets from overs 7-15. Prem Kumar was at the centre of the choke, as he just ran through Salem's middle order, finishing with 3 wickets. Not to forget M Silambarasan, who was extremely clinical. Chepauk would have been unhappy with conceding 63 runs in the last 4 overs but that did not end up hurting them.

A really bizarre match for SKM Salem Spartans. They started well with the bat, adding 63 for the opening wicket, but from thereon, lost steam, collapsing to 104/6. All the hard work put in by Hari Nishaanth and skipper Abishiek Selvakumar was put to waste. At one stage, even 140 looked to be difficult before cameos from Sunny Sandhu and M Mohammed took them to a competitive 160. Although it did not seem enough at the halfway stage, it looked much better than what it was projected to reach early on.

5th win in a row for the 4-time champions. And it is a big win too, which will boost their already good net run rate. The bowlers set up the win, especially after the Powerplay in the first innings and the batters just made the target a mere formality. And with this win, CHEPAUK SUPER GILLIES QUALIFY FOR THE PLAYOFFS, with 2 matches still to go!

SIX! A fine way to end the game. Fractionally short, around off, Baba Aparajith stays back and heaves it over wide long on and clears the fence with ease. CHEPAUK WIN BY 6 WICKETS AND 21 BALLS TO SPARE!

Very full, down the leg side, Baba Aparajith paddles it fine. Short fine leg has some area to cover and Swaonil sets off running but Aparajith does not want to risk his hamstring and sends his partner back.

Another short ball, this is a leg spinner, Swapnil pulls it down to long on for a single.

WIDE. Make that 6 to win. Attempted googly, but short and down the leg side, Swapnil Singh cannot connect with his pull.

Last over of the match? In all likelihood. Chepauk need 7 runs to win. Karthick Manikandan to bowl. 2-0-19-1 so far.

Full and straight, Aparajith defends it to the off side. 2 runs and a wicket from M Poiyamozhi's second over.

On a length, outside off, Baba Aparajith opens the face of his bat and guides it away but cannot get it past the short third fielder.