Tirunelveli’s Indian Cement Company Ground witnessed a one-sided final match of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2023 as Lyca Kovai Kings (LKK) defeated Nellai Royal Kings (NRK) by a massive margin on Wednesday, July 12.
Opting to bat first, LKK set a formidable target for their opponents by posting an impressive total of 205 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. The Kovai batting lineup showcased their dominance with exceptional performances from Suresh Kumar, Mukilesh and Afheeq Ur, who smashed half-centuries for their team. Suresh contributed 57 runs off 33 balls, Mukilesh remained unbeaten with 51 runs off 40 balls and Afheeq Ur’s explosive knock of 50 runs came off just 21 deliveries.
NRK bowlers struggled to contain the Kovai batsmen, with even the experienced players like Sandeep Warrier (2/39) and Sonu Yadav (2/43) going for big runs.
Chasing a daunting target, the Royal Kings found themselves under immense pressure, leading to a disastrous collapse of their batting lineup. The Kovai bowlers, Jhatavedh Subramanyan and Shahrukh Khan, delivered destructive spells, wreaking havoc on the Nellai team. Subramanyan claimed four wickets for a mere 21 runs, while Shahrukh took three wickets for only 16 runs. Apart from Arun Karthik‘s quickfire knock of 27 runs off 14 balls and Laxmesha Suryaprakash‘s run-a-ball 22, the rest of the Nellai batters struggled to put up any resistance.
Eventually, the Royal Kings were bundled out for a mere 101 runs in 15 overs, resulting in a resounding 104-run victory for the Kovai Kings and securing them the TNPL 2023 title.
நாங்க தான் gethu nu காட்டிட்டாங்க!🔥#TNPL2023🏏#GethuKaatuvoma#sekkalisingamla#TNPLonstarsports#TNPLonfancode#NammaAatamAarambam💥#NammaOoruNammaGethu💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/w36aw6Yri8
— TNPL (@TNPremierLeague) July 12, 2023
This victory marks the first time that LKK have individually clinched the TNPL title. In the previous season, they were declared co-champions alongside Chepauk Super Gillies (CSG).
🏆 தூக்கிட்டாங்க #Kovai @LycaKovaiKings#NammaOoruNammaGethu #TNPL #LKK pic.twitter.com/0CmonVjViY
— Star Sports Tamil (@StarSportsTamil) July 12, 2023
The Kovai Kings’ players celebrated their historic win with jubilation, acknowledging their exceptional teamwork and stellar individual performances throughout the tournament. The TNPL 2023 final showcased their dominance in both batting and bowling, solidifying their position as deserving champions of the tournament.
