Salem Spartans captain Murugan Ashwin admitted that they could not put enough runs on the board throughout the season after they could manage a solitary win in the ongoing season of the Tamil Nadu Premier League.
SS were able to end their season on a high as they registered an 18-run win against Dindigul Dragons at the SCF Cricket Ground, Salem on Sunday in the last league stage match of the tournament.
Thus, the Murugan Ashwin-led team finished as the cellar-dwellers in the competition. SS posted 124 runs after Ashwin won the toss and decided to bat first. Ferrario and Pranav Kumar scored 38 runs and 23 runs respectively.
On the other hand, SS came up with a fine bowling performance as they were able to restrict Dindigul Dragons to 106-9. Ashwin led from the front as he scalped two wickets and conceded 16 runs in the four overs.
Furthermore, G Periyaswamy was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped three wickets and conceded only 11 runs in the four overs.
Murugan Ashwin said in the post-match presentation, “It means a lot. I just wish we had seven more games this season. The intent to get that win (was the difference today). Definitely, there are lot of positives. We are a bowling side, just that we didn’t put enough runs on the board. We have spoken on how to get things better in the batting in all aspects. Hopefully, we can improve next year.”
Meanwhile, Periyaswamy was delighted with his performance and was happy after performing well for the first time in front of his parents.
He said in the post-match presentation, “The folks here in my native supported us a lot, a big thank you to them. My mother had never come to watch my live before, so it was a special feeling. We never won a game before, so we were desperate to at least win a game. (On what TNPL has given him) It’s given me a life.”
On the other hand, Dindigul Dragons captain Hari Nishanth believes the batters didn’t get starts. Vimal Kumar scored 43 for DD but the rest of the batters failed to get going.
Hari Nishanth said after the game, “We didn’t get starts and that why we are here. Two sixes in the last over was costly for us. Batting has been the strength for Dindigul but this year we didn’t capitalize. I have been with this franchise for four years and this year it was a bit down.”
