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Who Said What: Tuti Patriots win inaugural TNPL

History was made in Chennai as Dinesh Karthk led the Albert TUTI Patriots to the inaugural 2016 Tamil Nadu Premier League title and the season ended as it began with Tuti Patriots beating Chepauk Super Gillies and Karthik leading from the front with a fifty.

Scoreboard pressure was always going to play a huge part in the chase especially after Albert TUTI Patriots opening pair put on a century partnership and a quadruple-wicket hat-trick maiden in the first over of Super Gillies’ chase didn’t help matters.

In the end, the 215 put on by Karthik’s side thanks to fifties from Kaushik Gandhi, Abhinav Mukund and Karthik was simply too much. Ganesh Moorthi broke the back of the chase in the first over as he picked up the tournament’s second hat-trick and finished with a maiden and four wickets. Eventually, Chepauk were bowled out for 93, handing the Patriots a 122-run win.

Man of the Match was unsurprisingly Ganesh Moorthi, who picked up four wickets in his spell (4-1-11-4) including a quadruple-wicket hat-trick maiden. He said: “I knew I was on a hat-trick and I tried to get the wicket in my third ball. I would like to thank all my coaches. My dad is here and it is the biggest game of my life.“

Karthik believes Abhinav Mukund will get an IPL opportunity

TUTI Patriots captain Dinesh Karthik said: “It feels great. It has been a good tournament for all of us. I would like to dedicate this win to our owner, who recently lost his father. Winning the toss was a good thing but putting up a performance like this was crucial. It is a sign of good teams to bring out our A game in the final.

“I would be surprised if Abhinav Mukund doesn't get an IPL contract very soon and how often do we see four wickets in the first over. Our support staff has been excellent, our coach doesn't even speak the local language but they've worked very hard. Has been a pleasure to play this tournament and it is always nice to win the inaugural season.”

Chepauk Super Gillies captain Rajagopal Sathish said: I am really proud of my team. We have played really well and had just one bad day, sad that it came in the final. It went wrong right from the start. I want my guys to cherish the moment and we would come back hard and strong next year.

For finishing the tournament as the leading run-scorer with five fifties, Dindigul Dragons’ N Jagadeesan is the Man of the Series. He said:: “I haven't really changed my game and have been batting just as I have from the beginning. I am not expecting anything as far as the IPL contracts are concerned.“

Here are the reactions:

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