TNPL 2016: Kaalai aim to break losing streak against Patriots

In what may be a clash of equals on Saturday at the India Cements Limited Ground at Sankarnagar, Tirunelveli, Karaikudi Kaalai will face Albert Tuti Patriots. It may be noted that Kaalai has not won a game yet while Patriots have won and lost one each.

Patriots bowled well in their opener against Chepauk Super Gillies and were impressive, to say the least. But they lost the plot post skipper Dinesh Karthik’s departure for the Duleep Trophy. Their fortunes with the bat plummeted, as was evident in their evisceration against Lyca Kovai Kings, as they were all-out for 95.

The in-form Abhinav Mukund (who will join the team for this match) is expected to add muscle to the batting. Also, Washington Sundar has been impressive but needs to convert his starts to big scores.

In the bowling, Akash Sumra, Aushik Srinivas and Aswin Crist were impressive and stuck to a tight line while Lakshmipathy Balaji led the attack. Patriots need their middle-order to hit form and wrest back the winning momentum.

Kaalai, on the other hand, will be desperate to get a win in this one. Subramanium Badrinath, their skipper, is the best man to inspire them. But the team also needs the junior players to chip in and assist the seniors.

Apart from M Vijaykumar, R Srinivasan and R Rajkumar, no other batsman has looked impressive. It will be interesting to see as to how they perform as a collective unit. Sonu Yadav, who took four wickets in the previous game against Chepauk Super Gillies, is a big find for Kaalai.

He was good in the death overs and gave important breakthroughs.

Key battles: The clash between Sonu Yadav and Abhinav Mukund is one to watch out for. Mukund is in good form and can help Patriots score big in the early overs.

On the other hand, Yadav will be high on confidence after his four-wicket haul in the last match.