Siechem Madurai Panthers, who were winless throughout last two seasons, completed a miraculous comeback this season with the seven-wicket win in the 2018 Sankar Cement-TNPL final against Dindigul Dragons at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Sunday, Aug 12.

In the clash billed as ‘Dindigul Dragons batting against Madurai Panthers bowling’, Panthers’ bowling attack knocked out the heavy batting line-up of the Dragons very early in the game and skittled them eventually for only 117.

Panthers had a poor start in the chase as Dragons’ left-arm spinner M Silambarasan conjured a triple-wicket over first up. The experienced duo of KB Arun Karthik not out 75(50b,4×4,4×6) and Shijit Chandran 38(49b,3×4,1×6) stepped up for the Panthers and steered the team upwards with an unbeaten 117-run partnership. Arun Karthik registered his sixth fifty of the season and remained the highest run-getter in the tournament.

Earlier in the night, choosing to bowl first, Madurai Panthers’ bowlers were on fire from the first over itself as Abhishek Tanwar castled Dragons’ opener Hari Nishaanth for one. The Dragons lost a wicket each in every over till the fifth and were languishing at 33-5 by the end of Powerplay overs.

Captain N Jagadeesan waged a lone battle for the Dragons with the fighting knock of 51(44b,5×4,1×6). Medium-pace bowler Abhishek Tanwar became the highest wicket-taker of the 2018 Sankar Cement-TNPL with his four-wicket haul (4-30) tonight, he was extremely well supported by another medium pacer Lokesh Raj (3-31) and the miserly mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy (2-9).

Brief Scores:

Dindigul Dragons 117 all out in 19.5 overs ( N Jagadeesan 51, Abhishek Tanwar 4-30, Lokesh Raj 3-31, V Chakaravarthy 2-9) lost to Siechem Madurai Panthers 119/3 in 17.1 overs ( KB Arun Karthik n.o. 75, Shijit Chandran n.o. 38 , M Silambarasan 3-23) by seven wickets.

AWARDS

‘Krishna Mines Super White Super Fours’ Award: N Jagadessan (Dindigul Dragons)

‘Sankar Cement’ Maximum Sixes Award:  KB Arun Karthik (Siechem Madurai Panthers)

‘Equitas Funtastic’ Player of the Match: N Jagadessan (Dindigul Dragons)

‘Sprite Most Refreshing Player’ Award: Abhishek Tanwar (Siechem Madurai Panthers)

‘Most numbers of DOT BALL bowled in the match’ Award: Varun Chakaravarthy (Siechem Madurai Panthers)

‘Sankar Cement Man of the Match’ Award:  KB Arun Karthik (Siechem Madurai Panthers)

TOURNAMENT AWARDS

‘Krishna Mines Super White Super Fours’ Tournament Award: N Jagadessan (Dindigul Dragons)

‘Sankar Cement’ Maximum Sixes Tournament Award: KB Arun Karthik (Siechem Madurai Panthers)

‘Equitas Funtastic’ Player of the Tournament: R Vivek (Dindigul Dragons)

‘Sprite Most Refreshing Player’ of the Tournament: R Mokit Hariharan (VB Kanchi Veerans)

‘Most numbers of DOT BALL bowled in the Tournament’ Award: Varun Chakaravarthy (Siechem Madurai Panthers)

‘Uniply Catch of the Tournament’ award: M Shahrukh Khan (Lyca Kovai Kings)

Highest Run Aggregate of the Tournament: KB Arun Karthik (Siechem Madurai Panthers)

Maximum number of wickets in the Tournament: Abhishek Tanwar (Siechem Madurai Panthers)

Player of the Tournament Award:  KB Arun Karthik (Siechem Madurai Panthers)