R Ashwin (right) and Varun Chakravarthy plays for Dindigul Dragons in the TNPL. (TNPL | X)
Dindigul Dragons skipper R Ashwin dropped a sitter during their match against Chepauk Super Gillies in the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) on Monday.On the last ball of the 19th over, Chepauk's N Sunil Krishna looked to go downtown but mistimed it completely.
The ball went straight to Ashwin at long-off, but he spilled it. The captain was in disbelief—so was the bowler, Sandeep Warrier.
However, it was a stunning finish to the match as Chepauk Super Gillies defeated Dindigul Dragons by 8 runs. The victory kept the Chepauk side on top of the points table, whereas Ashwin's Dindigul Dragons are fifth with two wins and as many losses in four outings."Lack of experience. We would have won it comfortably, but I feel the lack of experience cost us the game," Dragons captain R Ashwin said after the match."Finishing a game is a different skill, and it was about the inexperience of our batters. CSG bowled well and held their nerves. I won't say it was a failure—it was a learning for us."
It was indeed a thrilling end, as TD Lokesh Raj picked up a five-wicket haul inside two overs to win it for the Super Gillies."I have been on the losing side a lot in situations like these. Happy to be on the winning side this time," said Baba Aparajith, captain of Chepauk Super Gillies.
Aparajith showered praise on Lokesh and said: "It is difficult for bowlers to come in and start bowling from the 18th over. Hats off to him for taking a five-wicket haul. Even in the match against Nellai, I used him in the death overs. In situations like these, the true talent of players comes out."Lokesh was adjudged Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul."They had the upper hand. Apar anna (Baba Aparajith) trusted me and asked me to bowl only wide yorkers. It just came out in the heat of the moment. The advantage of our team is that we have 6–7 bowlers. Thanks to Apar anna for trusting me," he said.
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