Gujarat Titans' (GT) Sai Sudharsan's purple patch has continued in Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2023. For Lyca Kovai Kings, Sudharsan scored 90 runs from 52 balls but it was not enough to lead the side to a victory as Nellai Royal Kings’ 20-year-old Ajitesh Guruswamy dazzled with 112-run knock at SNR College Cricket Ground, Coimbatore on June 16. Royal Kings won the match by four wickets in a last-ball thriller.
After Nellai Royal Kings captain Arun Karthik won the toss and opted to field first, Sudharsan walked out to bat when they had two runs on the board. B Sachin had been dismissed for a seven-ball duck by Sonu Yadav. Sudharsan got off the mark with a boundary. He shared a 66-run partnership for the second wicket with J Suresh Kumar (33). The left-handed batter got to his half-century from 35 deliveries in the 12th over.
Sudharsan took on Yadav in the 16th over hitting him for two consecutive sixes. In the penultimate over, he got run out trying to sneak a quick single. This was the second time in TNPL 2023, he got run out. Despite his wicket, Lyca Kovai Kings were able to post 181/6 on the board. Sudharsan scored 90 runs off just 52 balls including seven fours and four sixes.
After the innings, Sudharsan did not look disappointed that he missed his century. "I will try and react to the situation and give my best to the team," he told the broadcasters in the innings break.
In the run chase, Nellai Royal Kings lost the wicket of their captain Karthik for a golden duck. Guruswamy went berserk in the third over to keep the required run rate in check. In the 11th over, Guruswamy got to his half-century from 33 deliveries. The youngster entertained with his unique strokeplay. Wickets kept falling but he kept his side in hunt. In the last two overs, they needed 33 runs to win. He hit two sixes in the penultimate over to get to his century from 58 deliveries.
In the final over, he hit a six off the second ball. But he got run out off the fourth delivery. He scored 112 runs from 60 deliveries including seven fours and eight sixes. When Guruswamy got out, Royal Kings still needed seven runs off two balls. M Poiyamozhi stunned Kovai Kings with a maximum. He followed it up with a single to finish the run chase and lead his side to a four-wicket win.
“I'm really happy that we won the game today. We wanted to use the powerplay and the plan was to build small partnerships. I will always back my strengths. From the start we had confidence and if we take it to the end, we thought we will win. Hats off to Poiyamozhi anna,” Guruswamy said in the post-match presentation.
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