TNPL-5: Vivek, Hari Nishaanth set up big win for Dindigul

CHENNAI: Dindigul Dragons registered a comfortable 76-run win over Salem Spartans in their TNPL-5 encounter at Chepauk on Friday evening. R Vivek (59) and skipper Hari Nishaanth (52) helped Dindigul score 185-6 and their bowlers then restricted Salem to 109 in 18.4 overs.
A target of 186 proved to be too much of an ask for Salem as their top-order failed to get going.By the 7th over of their chase, Salem slipped to 41 for 6 and never recovered. Barring opener S Abhishek (10) and No. 4 U Sushil (15), none of the top-six batters from Salem even reached double figures. M Ashwin (47, 3x4, 3x6), who walked in at No. 8, top-scored for the side but it was too little too late. Medium-pacer L Vignesh (2-25) and left-arm pacer R Suthesh (2-7) delivered the opening blows before left-arm M Silambarasan (1-24) and off-spinner R Swaminathan (2-8) took over.
Dindigul, in the first half, finished with an impressive total on board. Opener Hari Nishaanth and Vivek laid the foundation with their 76-run stand for the second wicket. While Nishaanth held the innings together with a responsible 52 off 42 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes), Vivek --- promoted to the No.3 position --- hit a 59 off 41 balls that contained 6 fours and 4 sixes. The duo took Dindigul’s total to 88-2 in the 12th over before Vivek was dismissed by medium-pacer Lokesh Raj (3-33). Lokesh also accounted for Mani Bharathy in the very same over.
Despite those twin strikes, Dindigul smashed 87 runs in the last six overs. Hari Nishaanth switched gears in the final phase of play and targeted Lokesh Raj --- hitting the latter for 36 runs off 20 balls. Allrounder Mokit Hariharan ensured the side finished on a high by smashing 32 not out off 15 balls that included 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Brief scores: Dindigul Dragons 185-6 in 20 overs (Vivek Raj 59, Hari Nishaanth 52, Mokit Hariharan 32 n.o.; Lokesh Raj 3-33, M Ganesh Moorthi 1-28, G Periyasamy 1-36, M Ashwin 1-40) vs Salem Spartans 109 in 18.4 overs (M Ashwin 47; L Vignesh 2-25, Suthesh 2-7, R Swaminathan 2-8). Dindigul won by 76 runs