- June 14, 2025
When IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans strode to the crease, the fans must have felt a surge of optimism. Raheja’s fireworks included 74 runs in just 28 balls, powered by a sensational strike rate of 264.28. By the 12th over, Tiruppur seemed set for a formidable total, cruising past 117 with wickets in hand and the momentum firmly on their side. But cricket, as always, has its twists — and this one slipped like quicksilver through Tiruppur’s fingers as SKM Salem Spartans snatched victory in the final ball thriller.
Loss of Momentum in Death Overs
The first major reason for Tiruppur’s loss was the slow unraveling of their momentum in the death overs. After Raheja’s explosive innings set the platform, the rest of the line-up were unable to go on and capitalise. Ranjan Paul’s 25 off 22 and Sasidev’s 18 off 16 were decent knocks, but lacked the killer desire to push the score past a chasing side with all that firepower.
Even Sai Kishore’s marginal cameo of 4 runs could not steady the ship. The late losses began to tumble exactly when they were needed to – from 156 for 5 down to 177 for 8 by the end of the 20th over – leaving Tiruppur bereft of the big total to reward their early firepower.
Nidhish Rajagopal’s Match-Turning Knock
Second, another game changer for SKM Salem Spartans was the bat of Nidhish Rajagopal with a destructive 69 off 44 balls. Rajagopal was more than a creator of runs; he was a creator of momentum. He drew pressure onto the Tiruppur bowlers with three big sixes while maintaining a strike rate higher than 150.
The chasing team needs to be able to rotate the scoreboard to begin with; however, it is a nightmare for any bowling line-up to have a single batsman who is keeping the scoreboard ticking whilst hitting errant deliveries. Rajagopal’s innings was the spine of the whole chase; he overcame early losses and steadied the innings at the right time.
R Kavin and Harish Kumar had useful cameos along the way, particularly Harish Kumar’s 23* off 12 balls, which ended the chase in style. Overall, the Spartans’ aggressive batting style and the right partnerships gave the game the potential of chaos, but they took control.
Bowling Discipline and Fielding Lapses
In the end, Tiruppur’s bad luck was compounded by contextual issues out of their control, specifically their inconsistent bowling and poorly executed death bowling. Mohammed Mohammed took 2 wickets at an acceptable rate, but some of the other members of the bowling unit compromised their attacks and gave away runs when they were needed the most.
The extras alone (6 wides and 1 no ball) were gifts to the batting unit in Tiruppur, and threw away the bowlers’ good work. Esakkimuthu allowed Salem to completely exploit a chink in Tiruppur’s armor with the poor lack of control with his 4 overs for 53 runs an average of more than 13 per over!.
An exhilarating end snuffed out Tiruppur’s limping hopes of victory, after failing to find much-needed acceleration near the end of their innings, a match-winning innings from Salem’s Rajagopal, and some poor discipline with the ball. The uncertainty that comes with cricket was on display, with Salem Spartans edging what turned out to be a great contest on a night where every ball was pivotal. For Tiruppur, it was a bitter lesson on how to manage momentum and finish matches- one that is sure to bring excitement in learning for the rest of TNPL 2025.
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