On 10 July 2023, qualifier two of the ongoing TNPL took place in Tirunelveli between Dindigul Dragons (DD) and Nellai Royal Kings (NRK). DD were coming off after losing the qualifier one while NRK came to this clash after winning the eliminator. So, fans were expecting an enthralling battle.
Speaking of the match, DD set a target of 186 runs and NRK managed to chase it down in a last-ball thriller. But, what made headlines was the brutal hitting from Guruswamy Ajitesh and Rithik Easwaran where they smashed 33 runs in the 19th over during the chase. The video went viral and fans shared their views on social media.
Here is the shared video:
One of the craziest striking! 37 needed in 12 balls - 6,6,6,1,6,N1,6.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 10, 2023
33 runs from the penultimate over, insane striking from Rithik Easwaran and Ajitesh Guruswamy in TNPL Qualifier. pic.twitter.com/jhToGDKkM1
Nellai Roral Kings will take on Lyca Kovai Kings in the final of TNPL 2023 ON 12 July
Speaking of the video, NRK needed 37 runs in two overs while both Guruswamy Ajitesh and Rithik Easwaran were batting. For DD, G Kishoor came up to bowl that penultimate over. But, both the batters put up carnage as they smashed 33 runs. On the first three consecutive deliveries, Easwaran smashed three sixes. Then, on the fifth delivery, Ajitesh smashed another six while Easwaran added another six to the tally on the last delivery of the over. Thus, Kishoor finished the match with a figure of 50 runs in three overs without any wickets.
Thus, in the last over, NRK needed just four runs but Suboth Bhati put up a great fight by conceding just three runs off five balls. Then, Easwaran was on strike as they needed just one run off the last ball. But, he kept his nerves and smashed a six to seal the deal for his team. Easwaran scored 39* runs off 11 balls, including six sixes while Ajitesh remained not out on 73 runs off 44 balls, including five fours and five sixes. They won the match by seven wickets and Ajitesh won the Player of the Match award. Now, on 12 July, NRK will take on Lyca Kovai Kings (LKK) in the final of TNPL 2023.
Here is how fans have reacted to the viral video:
Ye kam to babar azam bhe kar sakta h
— Babar azam fans (@Babarazam_fans_) July 11, 2023
Saari bowl slot me di..isse acha corporate cricket me bowler hote hai
— NIT (@neilbroom) July 10, 2023
Bhai kitna lamba chalta hai ye tnpl?
— gautamdewan (@GautamDewan999) July 10, 2023
Crazy stuff..
— CricXP (@CricXP) July 10, 2023
Rithik Easwaran is looking like pooran while playing those shots
— Ritesh (@Riteshsh108) July 11, 2023
And This is what we call Scripting
— Anish🙇 (@Anish_Utd) July 10, 2023
Ipl writers will never match these levels
Bowling level in Indian domestic tournaments 😂😂
— Luke Skywalker (@Siddhar47354588) July 10, 2023
Left hander shots like west indies player
— Saksham Beri (@saksham573) July 10, 2023
He played like I plays in rc20
— Srikanth (@Srikant01519836) July 11, 2023