DD VS SMP T20

What's coming up on Saturday, the 27th? A double header. The afternoon match is a dead rubber, with top-ranked Lyca Kovai Kings taking on bottom-placed Salem Spartans while the evening clash is a juicy one. IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans meet Trichy Grand Cholas. The winner of that clash will become the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs. The action starts at 3.15 pm IST (0945 GMT) but our build-up will begin much earlier. So do join early. In the meanwhile, you can catch action from the different T20 Leagues across the globe and also the two Test matches going on in the UK. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Qualification never in doubt, aye skip? Well, that's good confidence. But now, can Dindigul make it into the top 2? We all know that the top 2 get 2 bites of the cherry. But they will need a couple of other results going their way. However, all they can do is win their game at hand. Dindigul Dragons face Nellai Royal Kings in their last league clash. Irrespective of whether they finish in the top 2 or outside, Ashwin would want his side to enter the playoffs with a win. That clash is slated on Sunday, 28th July, 2024 at 7.15 pm IST (1345 GMT).

Victorious Dindigul Dragons skipper, RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN, says that qualification was never in doubt, once they found their rhythm in their last two matches. Admits that they started the tournament a bit too slowly but is happy to have reached the next round. As an honest critic, says that Dindigul were a few runs short, as the par score would have been 210-220! Laments the poor finish with the bat. Praises his bowlers for stepping up really well as a unit. Thanks the fans, not only here, but at all the venues, for coming in large numbers.

DINDIGUL DRAGONS' SHIVAM SINGH HAS BEEN NAMED AS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his flamboyant unbeaten 106 (57). On being asked about the feeling on scoring a century, Shivam calls it an amazing feeling. On changing his totally attacking mindset from last season to a more thoughtful approach this season, Singh credits it to a chat with skipper Ashwin, adding further that the atmosphere inside the Dindigul dressing room is fantastic.

Win for pride, is what Hari Nishaanth has wished, for his last league game this season. Siechem Madurai Panthers get a day's break before they take on Chepauk Super Gillies on Sunday, 28th July, 2024 at 3.15 pm IST (0945 GMT). Can they end on a high?

Siechem Madurai Panthers' captain, HARI NISHAANTH, manages a smile. Feels that his team bowled well in patches but the fielding let them down, along with a couple of no balls, which took the momentum away. On the mindset while chasing 202, Nishaanth believes that after a big partnership, wickets do tend to fall, but still feels that they gave a good fight. On the 2024 season, Hari wants to take individual gainings. Wants to end their final league game on a motivational high and hopes that everyone steps up, wishing for fewer errors in the bowling and fielding.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, the Dindigul Dragons were inserted to bat first and it was Shivam Singh who stole the spotlight with his fantastic knock of 106 in just 57 deliveries. Well, some might say the last two overs squeezed around 10-15 runs, but it was all enough in the end as Dindigul's bowling attack executed an almost perfect job with the ball. With this win, Dindigul Dragons leapfrog from the fifth spot to the third place and add that coveted 'Q' in front of their name, just after Lyca Kovai Kings and Chepauk Super Gillies.

Initially, Dindigul's bowlers struggled to find their rhythm, allowing the opposition to start without any setbacks. The turning point came when Ravichandran Ashwin and Varun Chakravarthy began bowling in tandem after the Powerplay ended. Together, they ambushed the opposition and increased pressure on the batters by giving away absolutely nothing, resulting in a cluster of quick wickets. Subodh Bhati and Sandeep Warrier also contributed significantly during the middle overs, maintaining tight lines and lengths. This collective effort swung the momentum back in Dindigul's favor big time.

A critical period occurred between the 8th and 12th overs when boundaries became scarce. This drought forced the batsmen to attempt risky shots to relieve pressure, leading to dismissals just as they were gaining momentum. Chasing a formidable target of 202, these five quiet overs yielded only 30 runs - which had one four and one six - putting immense strain on the incoming batters, who struggled to cope with pressure. And within a flash, the game that looked 50-50 at the start of the chase, drifted away from their clutches. P Saravanan enjoyed his stay through and carried the inevitable till the end.

The Madurai Panthers came out swinging with openers Suresh Lokeshwar and C Hari Nishaanth forming a stable opening stand of 34 runs. Jagatheesan Kousik then, along with the half-centurion Suresh Lokeshwar took matters in hand and stitched a good second-wicket partnership. Around the halfway mark into the chase, it was all neck and neck.

DINDIGUL DRAGONS ARE THE THIRD TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR THE TNPL 2024 PLAYOFFS. They strode out as a complete unit in this game, first, postering a mammoth total on the board, and then executing the job perfectly with the ball. Ravichandran Ashwin has marshaled his troops convincingly, as it marks three wins on the bounce for Dindigul in their last three outings, overall their fourth. As for the Siechem Madurai Panthers, they were climbing an uphill task and given how their batting order collapse mirrored their season-long woes, as the top three scored 93 and eventually lost seven wickets in the next 78 runs. And with this, they are officially knocked out of the competition.

A dot ball to complete the formalities. A short ball, outside off, Murugan Ashwin attempts the upper cut but misses. DINDIGUL DRAGONS WIN BY 30 RUNS AND QUALIFY FOR THE PLAYOFFS!

Around the wicket to the left-hander, short and outside off. P Saravanan swivels, looks to pull but misses. The ball goes off his hips towards short fine leg. A leg bye taken.

Full and straight, Ashwin just about gets bat on that one, getting an inside edge towards square leg. Had he missed that, he would have been plumb LBW. A single taken.

FOUR! A bit of a heave-ho. A quicker ball, on leg stump, comes as a full toss, Murugan Ashwin swings hard and gets it off the inner half of the bat. The ball though, speeds through the outfield, beating deep square leg's dive to his left.

WIDE! Third one in this already long over. Diran tries to follow the batter down the leg side but bowls it too wide, outside leg stump. Murugan misses his flick.

Terrific yorker, from around the wicket, on leg stump, PS just about manages to get his bat down in time, eking it out behind square leg for a run.