[Watch] Ravichandran Ashwin smashes winning 6 to lift Dindigul Dragons into TNPL 2024 final

Dindigul Dragons captain Ravichandran Ashwin hammered consecutive sixes against IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans in Qualifier 2 to power his team into the 2024 Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) final. The bowling all-rounder remained unbeaten on 69 off 30 balls as Dindigul Dragons chased a target of 109 in 10.5 overs, with nine wickets in hand.

Dindigul Dragons won the toss and opted to bowl first in Qualifier 2 of TNPL 2024 played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, August 2. P Vignesh starred with sensational figures of 3-8, while Suboth Bhati and Varun Chakravarthy claimed two wickets each as IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans were bowled out for 108 in 19.4 overs.

Chasing 109, Ashwin and Vimal Khumar (28 off 27) added 81 for the first wicket for Dindigul Dragons in 8.2 overs. The former brought up an emphatic win for his team, smashing back-to-back sixes off P Bhuvaneswaran in the 11th over. The first maximum was whacked over deep midwicket, while the winning hit was launched over long-on as Ashwin walked down the track a bit.

Watch the video of the winning hit

The Dindigul Dragons captain struck 11 fours and as many as three sixes in his match-winning knock. His first maximum came off R Sai Kishore's bowling in the fifth over as he clobbered a full ball over. The next two deliveries of the over also went for boundaries. The first was smacked between cover and cover point, while the second was reverse-lapped over short third man.

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How Ravichandran Ashwin has performed in TNPL 2024

The Dindigul Dragons captain has made crucial contributions with both bat and ball in the 2024 Tamil Nadu Premier League. In nine matches, he has claimed nine wickets at an average of 26.11. He picked up 3-18 against Trichy Grand Cholas and two wickets each against Siechem Madurai Panthers and Nellai Royal Kings.

Looking at the batting performances of the 37-year-old in the T20 competition, Ashwin slammed 45* off 20 against Chepauk Super Gillies, clubbing three fours and four sixes. The right-handed batter also scored 57 off 35 in the Eliminator against Chepauk Super Gillies before hammering another fifty in Qualifier 2.

Dindigul Dragons will take on Lyca Kovai Kings in the final of TNPL 2024 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, August 4. Lyca Kovai Kings beat IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans by seven wickets in Qualifier 1 in Dindigul.