TNPL | Aparajith, Vijay Shankar star for Chepauk Super Gillies

CSG skipper Baba Aparajith in action.
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY

R.S. Mokit Hariharan (46, 22b, 7×4, 2×6) set the stage with a blazing start before skipper B. Aparajith (77 n.o., 48b, 5×4, 5×6) took charge as Chepauk Super Gillies romped home to an eight-wicket win over IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans in the TNPL-9 match at the Sri Ramakrishna College Ground on Friday.

Chasing 174, opener Mokit went hammer and tongs in the PowerPlay against the Tamizhans bowlers, who were wayward in their lines and lengths. The left-hander was severe on the leg-side, sweeping the spinners to the fence without fuss as CSG raced to 68 for one in the first six overs.

Aparajith and Vijay Shankar then joined forces and kept the pedal to the metal. The two senior pros toyed with a hapless Tamizhans attack, pulling and lofting the bowlers over the ropes. The duo’s unbroken 105-run partnership for the third wicket off just 57 balls ensured the four-time champion cantered home in 16 overs.

Earlier, Tushar Raheja’s sparkling knock (79, 43b, 7×4, 5×6) helped Tamizhans post 173 for six after being put in to bat.

The left-hander got going, lofting Abhishek Tanwar down the ground before taking on Vijay Shankar. He flicked the medium-pacer over fine leg for a maximum before finding two more boundaries in a 17-run fourth over to give impetus to the innings.

Raheja was strong through the off-side, and he maximised it by lofting the pacers and spinners alike over cover.

But once he was dismissed, the Super Gillies medium-pacers pulled things back to restrict the former to a par score. CSG’s batters then took over.

The scores: IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans 173/6 in 20 overs (Tushar Raheja 79, Pradosh Ranjan Paul 38, Abhishek Tanwar 2/23, Vijay Shankar 2/39) lost to Chepauk Super Gillies 174/2 in 16 overs (R.S. Mokit Hariharan 46, B. Aparajith 77 n.o., Vijay Shankar 41 n.o.). Toss: CSG.

Saturday’s match: Nellai Royal Kings vs Trichy Grand Cholas (7. 15 p.m.)