Cricket is being played across the world in each of the formats. If we speak of test cricket we have the Ashes 2023. In terms of ODI cricket, fans are able to witness the ICC 2023 ODI World Cup qualifications taking place in Zimbabwe. For the lovers and consumers of the shortest format, there is the T20 Blast and the Tamil Nadu Premier League.
The story as it happened –
It was a double header Sunday as the evening game saw Dindigul Dragons take on Madurai Panthers. Ravichandran Ashwin led Dragons had won the first game, while the Panthers had lost their opening game of the season. Ravi Ashwin won the toss and put the Panthers into bat.
Murugan Ashwin takes the best catch of the season –
Dindigul Panthers were chasing 124 for a win as S. Arun was facing the left arm pace of Gurjapneet Singh. Arun went down the track in a bid to force the issue and hit the ball over the off side. The batter couldn’t get the timing right as Murugan Ashwin ran all the way and dived full length to take a two handed beauty. His teammates crowded him as this was certainly in contention to make catch of the season.
Welcome to Murugan Ashwin Airlines, this is your captain speaking👨✈️✈️#NammaOoruNammaGethu #TNPL #DD #SMP #DDvsSMP pic.twitter.com/1BJuQzNleM
— Star Sports Tamil (@StarSportsTamil) June 19, 2023
Dragons restricts Panthers to 123 –
Madurai Panthers could only post a meager 123 on the board as they were bowled out with 3 balls to spare. The lead scorer for the Panthers was J. Kousik who scored 45 off 34 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. Hari Nishant scored 24, while Dev Rahul with 14 and Washington Sundar scored 12. Sarvana Kumar and Subodh Bhati picked 3 wickets for the Dragons. Varun Chakravarthy picked 2 wickets while skipper Ravi Ashwin got the bi wicket of Sundar.
Indrajith’s knock takes Dragons home –
Chasing 124 to win, Vimal Kumar and Shivam Singh were out for 6 and 9 each before Arun fell to leave the dragons struggling at 32/3. Gurjapneet Singh got all the 3 wickets for the Panthers. Baba Indrajith and Aditya Ganesh joined forces and added 92 unbeaten runs for the 4th wicket. Indrajith scored 78 off 48 balls with 7 fours and 4 sixes, while Ganesh was not out on run a ball 22 with a four and six.