TNPL 2018: IDREAM Karaikudi Kaalai Vs VB Kanchi Veerans: Live Score, Commentary & Live Updates

Kaalai register first win of TNPL 2018

A captain's knock from Anirudha Srikkanth, who ends unbeaten on 93 from just 49 balls helps the Kaalai claim their first win of TNPL 2018. Despite losing an early wicket, thanks to the skipper's exploits, the result was never really in doubt. Towards the end, it was just a question of how much the margin will be and the Veerans didn't help their own cause by dropping catches and making errors in the field.

SIX! What a way to finish the match as Kaalai skipper ends the game with a six and the Karaikudi Kaalai win by eight wickets with 21 balls to spare.

Just six singles off that over and the number of runs required is in single digits now.

Kaalai 138/2 after 16 overs

19 runs came off that over and while the last four and a six was good clean hitting from Srikkanth, the first two boundaries was the result of a dropped catch and a misfield.

Kaalai are on the verge now, with just 15 needed off the last five overs

If the Veerans go on to lose this one, they only have themselves to blame. Dropped catches and misfields aren't the way to go when you are only defending 146. Poor lines with the ball hasn't done their cause any favor either. Three consecutive fours followed by a six for Srikkanth.

Kaalai 132/2 after 15 overs

DROPPED! The Kaalai skipper would have had his heart in his mouth there. That went a mile in the air and the breeze was taking the ball away from the fielder, who eventually shells that.

Kaalai 118/2 after 14.3 overs

Silambarasan back into the attack. Can he provide the Veerans with a much-needed breakthrough?

Kaalai are doing this comfortably now. Eight runs came off that over and all they have to do is now just be calm and don't throw away their wickets.

Kaalai 113/2 after 14 overs

41 needed off 42 balls now and the required rate has finally gone down below six. Can the Kaalai see this home?

After a couple of tight overs, a six and a couple of wides would have been the last thing that the Veerans would have wanted off the 13th over but that is what transpired as Sanjay Yadav's over went for 13 runs.

Kaalai 105/2 after 13 overs

SIX! R Srinivasan relieves some pressure off the Kaalai skipper with a slog sweep that comfortably clears the mid-wicket boundary. And that also brings up the 100 for his side.

Just when the Veerans thought they were tightening the screws, Kaalai skipper gets a boundary and gets to his fifty as well. Eight came off that over but Kaalai will want their captain to finish the job.

Kaalai 92/2 after 12 overs

Another tight over. This time from Sanjay Yadav. Just three runs came off this one and just five have come off the last two overs.

Kaalai 84/2 after 11 overs

At the halfway stage, Kaalai need 65 more to win and have a well-set Srikkanth closing in on a fifty.

Successful over for the Veerans but they are still a long way away from winning this game despite a two-run over that produced a wicket. They need to get rid of the Kaalai skipper if they are to have any chance.

Kaalai 81/2 after 10 overs

OUT! Maan Bafna has to depart and the Veerans finally pick up a wicket.

Maan Bafna c Lokeshwar b Sunil Sam 24(24)

Much better over for the Veerans but that still went for seven and didn't produce a wicket.

Kaalai 79/1 after 9 overs

The bowlers change, the batsmen hitting it have changed but the sixes keep on coming for the Kaalai. And if the Veerans are to have any chance of picking up a win in this one, they need to get rid of the Kaalai skipper soon.

Kaalai 72/1 after 8 overs

SIX! Bafna isn't content with just watching his captain hit sixes from the other end as he gets in on the act by walking down the track and smoking one into the stands.

With the skipper on song, Kaalai are scoring sixes at will and cruising along to the target. Even the introduction of Silambarasan does nothing to stem the flow of runs as that over goes for 9.

Kaalai 61/1 after 7 overs

SIX! Now it is Srikanth who holds the record for most sixes in TNPL with 32. On the pads and that is effortlessly flicked into the stands. He seems to be in a hurry.

The first four overs were just what the Veerans would have wanted while the last two overs of the powerplay belonged to the Kaalai skipper who hit 29 runs in the eight balls he faced in that period. And just like that the chasing side is in the driver's seat to come out with a win.

SIX! And he gets there in style as he clears his front leg and hits a flat six over long to go level with Baba Aparajith for most sixes in TNPL history. That also brought up the fifty for the Kaalai inside the powerplay.

Kaalai 52/1 after 6 overs

Before the start of the fifth over, the Kaalai captain's strike rate was in the 80s and one over was all it took for that to go up over 180. That also brings him just one six away from equaling the record for most sixes (31) in TNPL history.

After two huge sixes, Anirudha Srikkanth decides to just punch one past cover and then finishes the over with a six that releases any pressure the Karaikudi side might have had. 22 came off that over and just like that the asking rate has come down to under 7.

Kaalai 43/1 after 5 overs

SIX! In the slot again and Srikkanth has had enough of all the dots and decides to deal in sixes. This one was clobbered over mid-wicket and that went a long, long way.

SIX! This was a long time coming. Length ball that was in his arc and Anirudha just hammers that over the bowler's head and holds the pose as well. That was pure timing from the opener

Kaalai 27/1 after 4.2 overs

The early wicket of Aditya has put an end to any thoughts Anirudha might have had of going after the bowlers. He missed out on a couple of balls on the pads and as a result just six came off that over.

Kaalai 21/1 after 4 overs

Maan Bafna comes in at No.3 and gets off the mark off his third ball. That was an excellent over for the Veerans not only because it went for just two runs but it also came with the crucial wicket of Aditya.

Kaalai 15/1 after 3 overs

OUT! Veerans have the early wicket they wanted as Aditya has to depart. That was short and wide from Ashwath and could have been hit anywhere but that was hit straight to point where Siddharth takes a good low catch.

Aditya c S Siddharth b S Ashwath 5(7)

Both Anirudha and Aditya have got off the mark in terms of boundaries. The former courtesy of a pull shot off a Sunil Sam length ball on the pads. Still only seven runs came off that over as the Kaalai are taking it slow.

Kaalai 13/0 after 2 overs

A sedate start for the Kaalai, who despite scoring a boundary, only managed six runs off the first over bowled by Ashwath.

Kaalai 6/0 after 1 over

We are back underway for the chase as openers Anirudha and Aditya come out to the crease.

iDewam Karaikudi Kaalai need 146 runs to win and we will be back in 15 mins for the chase.

A good recovery from VB Kanchi Veerans. After losing four early wickets, Vishal Vaidya stood firm and repaired the innings before cameos from Sanjay Yadav and Sunil Sam took them to 145/8.

Sunil Sam tries to steal a run but Kaalai skipper S Aniruda's direct hit finds him short of the crease. A good cameo from Sunil comes to an end.

Sunil Sam run out (S Aniruda) 19(8)

Some much-needed sixes from Sunil Sam and before that Sanjay Yadav is getting the Veerans closer to 150. Can they get there? They have two overs left.

Sunil Sam is making the most of his luck and making the Kaalai pay for not getting him run-out in the last over. First it was a lucky boundary off the glove, the second was a monstrous six that sailed into the stands. And to finish things off he hits another into the stands and picks up 19 from the over.

Veerans 130/7 after 18 overs

THREE RUNS. That was all that Yo Mahesh conceded. Although there should have been a run-out off the last ball of the over, the Kaalai will take a 3-run over all the same.

Veerans 111/7 after 17 overs

OUT! S Siva has to go and with that surely goes any hopes Veerans have of getting to 150. In the space of seven balls, both set batsmen are back in the pavilion. That brings to an end an excellent over by Mohan Prasath as that went for just three runs.

Veerans 108/7 after 16 overs

Five overs to go and the Veerans have crossed a century. How much more can they add?

OUT! Going for four sixes in a row, Sanjay Yadav has to go for an incredible 13-ball 27. What an over for the Veerans despite the loss of the wicket. Will that give them the necessary momentum?

Veerans 105/6 after 15 overs

Make that three in a row. Sanjay Yadav is making it rain sixes in Dindigul tonight. He is striking them cleanly and clearing the boundaries with consummate ease.

Out of nowhere Sanjay Yadav is single-handedly turning the tide for the Veerans, who now have back-to-back sixes. The first one was over long-on and came after two dot balls to start the over while the second was slog swept over mid-wicket with plenty of power.

Veerans 99/5 after 14.4 overs

SIX! Finally. The WAIT is OVER! For the first time since the first ball of the sixth over, the Veerans finally have a boundary. And it is a six. And it comes off the blade of Sanjay Yadav, who got one in the slot to clobber over deep mid-wicket.

Veerans 87/5 after 14 overs

OUT! The squeeze has finally paid off as the slower one gets rid of Vishal Vaidhya, who was trying to get his side's first boundary since he hit a six 51 balls ago. All he can do is find the fielder at long-off and the Veerans are in further trouble.

Veerans 78/5 after 13 overs

Eight overs to go and so far, given how the pitch is behaving and the bowlers have bowled, it looks like Karaikudi's decision to bowl first is the right one.

It has now been 41 balls since the last boundary for the Veerans and neither S Siva or Vishal Vaidhya have been able to get the ball to the fence. Maan Bafna finishes another tidy over that goes for just five runs.

Veerans 74/4 after 12 overs

The runs seem to have dried up for the Veerans and not helping their cause is the fact that they haven't hit a boundary since the last over the powerplay. Rajkumar continues from the other end and concedes just five runs this time.

Veerans 69/4 after 11 overs

Maan Bafna comes in for his first over and despite bowling a wide, the over goes for just four runs.

Veerans 64/4 after 10 overs