TNPL 2016: Kaalai aim to dethrone Kings in Chennai!
Karaikudi Kaalai and Lyca Kovai Kings will clash in what may be an interesting clash of the India Cements TN Premier League in Chennai on Friday. Kaalai got off to a slow start after losing their first two games but later bounced back by winning two on the trot.
Kaalai beat Madurai Super Giants by 52 runs in their previous encounter. On the other hand, Kings, after losing their first game in a super-over, regrouped and have won three games in a row. Their last game was an 11-run win against Chepauk Super Gillies.
Kaalai have been fantastic with the ball and the entire team has contributed in equal measure. R Rajkumar, who has nine wickets in four games, is also the leading wicket-taker and has made a huge impact thanks to his pinpoint accuracy.
Even the trio of Sonu Yadav, Mohan Prasath, and Ganapathi Chandrasekar have been impressive and have picked up seventeen wickets between them. Also, a reshuffle in the batting order seems to have helped the team as every player contributed with the bat in the last game.
It may be noted that Kings have been experts in defending low scores in this tournament. Also, they have lost only one game so far and have a good chance of making it to the semi-finals.
Even the absence of Murali Vijay has not dampened their spirits as the team rallied hard during crunch situations. Their front-line pace attack of M Mohammed and K Vignesh have been fantastic during the power-plays.
Harish Kumar and Siva Kumar have stemmed the run-flow and have also picked up wickets with their nagging line. Their batting will hinge on the opening duo of L Suryaprakash and Anirudh Sita Ram B.
Tarun Srinivas is another player who can make a difference. Do watch out for a quick run-blitz from Vijay and Syed Mohammed which may help the team put on a huge total.
Key Battles: It will be a classic bat versus ball contest as M Vijay Kumar pits his wits against K Vignesh.