India spinner Varun Chakravarthy scored 10 runs off two balls to win a last-ball thriller for his side in TNPL 2025.
Chasing 189, the Dindigul Dragons needed 11 runs off the final over. Salem Spartans pacer M Poiyamozhi started strong, conceding minimal runs and dismissing batter Karthik Saran in the first four deliveries. The pressure shifted dramatically when Poiyamozhi overstepped on the penultimate ball, handing the Dragons a crucial no-ball and free hit.
No.9 batter Varun seized the opportunity, launching the free-hit over long-off to bring the target within reach. He then cleared the infield in the final delivery to get another boundary, giving the Dragons a breathtaking two-wicket win.
An out-and-out tailender, Varun holds a career batting average of 6.33 with a strike rate of 74 across 119 professional T20 appearances. Though TNPL matches aren't classified as official T20s, these modest numbers made his match-winning heroics even more remarkable. As the winning runs were struck, Varun was swarmed by jubilant teammates, including captain R Ashwin, while the bowler-turned-matchwinner soaked in the moment.
The chase was set up by Ashwin, who scored a 14-ball 36 opening the innings. Earlier, his 3-22 ensured Salem didn’t cross the 200-run mark. His all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match. The victory was the Dragons' third in five matches, keeping them in contention for a playoff berth, while the Spartans succumbed to their third defeat in six matches.
Match 19, SKM Salem Spartans vs Dindigul Dragons
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- Ball by ball Over
Watch Varun Chakravarthy win last-ball thriller in TNPL
Varun Chakravarthy delivered a humdinger finish for the Dindigul Dragons! @TNCACricket @DindigulDragons @chakaravarthy29 #TNPL #NammaOoruNammaGethu #TNPL2025 pic.twitter.com/pPXQlWzuJl
— TNPL (@TNPremierLeague) June 22, 2025
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