SMP VS ITT MATCH 27

Right then, that's all from this game. We are now down to the last game of the league stage of the 2023 Tamil Nadu T20 League which will see Trichy take on Nellai on the 5th of July. The first ball will be bowled at 7.15 pm IST (1.45 pm GMT). Until then, take care and goodbye!

Suresh Lokeshwar is the Player of the Match for his decent knock of 44 runs from 37 balls.

Earlier in the game, after Tiruppur won the toss and opted to bowl first, Madurai were off to a steady start. With a 68-run opening partnership, Suresh Lokeshwar and Hari Nishaanth laid a solid foundation for Madurai's innings. Coming in at number 3, V Aditya joined hands with Lokeshwar and took the innings forward. Despite the top three batters getting off to starts, neither of them could convert into a big one. At one stage, Madurai were on course for a score in excess of 170 but could not finish well and had to settle for a lower total. For Tiruppur, H Trilok Nag Nag was on the expensive side but accounted for two wickets in the penultimate over to put a squeeze on the runs.

As far as Tiruppur are concerned, they will be gutted as their campaign has now come to an end. Having finished strongly with the ball, Tiruppur took that momentum into their batting effort. The opening pair of K Vishal Vaidhya and Tushar Raheja got them off to a confident start. Tushar Raheja scored his maiden Tamil Nadu T20 League but his innings lacked intent. When Vijay Shankar was striking well, Tiruppur had a glimmer of hope but his departure put them in big trouble. P Bhuvaneswaran kept them in the hunt until the end, but it was not enough on the night.

Madurai are through to the playoffs of the 2023 Tamil Nadu T20 League! There were tense moments towards the end but Gurjapneet Singh held his nerves and took his side over the line. Having posted what looked like a par score at the halfway mark, early breakthroughs were the need of the hour. It did not go as per plan but they did not allow Tiruppur to get off to a flier. During the middle overs, they kept the runs in check and kept mounting the pressure on Tiruppur. With 16 runs to defend in the last over, Gurjapneet Singh stepped up and saw it through for Madurai. With this win, Madurai have set up a date with Nellai in the Eliminator.

No run. Swing and a miss! The batter swings hard at that one but does not connect.

1 run, this is driven through mid on for a single.

OUT! That is a simple catch to the fielder.

1 run, the batter comes forward and plays an off drive for a run.

Four! That is pulled through the on side. The ball races to the fence in no time.

Six! Sent into the crowd! Out comes the pull shot and off goes the ball.

No run. Play and a miss! The batter wasn't quite sure how to play that one.

2 runs, that is pulled away through mid wicket for a couple of runs.

1 run, the batter comes forward and plays an off drive for a run.

Six! That is pulled powerfully into the stands.

No run, beaten! Lovely bowling as the batter is defeated all ends up.

OUT! That is a simple catch to the fielder.