Dindigul Dragons steal the game, qualify for the playoffs

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-06-27 01:25:06 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-06-26 23:32:57

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 0

---

Playoff-bound Dindigul Dragons pulled off a heist, chasing down a daunting 180 to defeat Integral Coach Factory by four wickets, thanks to Maan's 48 and Hunny's 32. Defending champions Dragons secured their playoff berth and climbed to the top of the points table, level on points with Chennai Super Gillies.

The Dragons chasing down ICF's 179 proved to be a daunting task with the surface providing assistance to the seamers. The defending champions got off to a terrible start, losing opener Vijay Shankar in the second over for a duck. Abhishek Raghuvanshi took his wicket with a beautiful outswinger that managed to find the outside edge of the bat. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, and the Dragons found themselves in a spot of bother at 99 for 5 in the 13th over.

Maan Maheswaran, who came in at number three, led the revival of the Dragons' innings. He took his time to settle in and assessed the pitch and bowling figures, deciding what the game required. When the seamers couldn't deliver the breakthroughs, ICF looked to their spinners. It was then that Maan shifted gears and took the attack to the opposition. He smashed 48 from just 25 balls, including five massive sixes, two of which flew out of the stadium, before being run out due to a brilliant direct hit from Raghavendran. His dismissal came at the wrong time for ICF as he nearly sealed the game for his team.

Youngster Hunny Bansal, who came in at number seven, played a crucial knock of 32 from just 18 balls, including four huge sixes, to take the game away from ICF. The Dragons managed to steal the game from the jaws of defeat, achieving their target in the final over with four wickets in hand.

This victory was crucial for the Dragons as it secured their spot in the playoffs. With this result, they topped the points table, level on points with Chennai Super Gillies. The stunned ICF team could only watch as the defending champions stole the game from them. Only time will tell if the Dragons can defend their title.

Go!