The Trichy Grand Cholas suffered an absolutely brutal 84-run loss against the Kovai Kings in the TNPL 2026 Qualifier 2 on Wednesday, getting completely bowled out for a meager 99 runs after a shocking collapse that saw them slip to 6/5. It was a complete disaster for Trichy, handing Kovai a ticket to the championship final.
Kovai Kings’ Dominance and a Historic Hat-Trick
From the jump, Kovai Kings captain Shahrukh Khan made the right call, winning the toss and electing to bat first. They put up a massive 183/5 in their 20 overs. But the real story hit when Trichy came up to bat. Kovai’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure, and that’s when Deeban Lingesh went OFF. Lingesh recorded one of the most amazing opening spells you’ll ever see, sending K Rajkumar, S Shyam Sundar, and Jagatheesan Kousik packing on the first three deliveries! All three were golden ducks, reducing Trichy to 0/3 after just three balls. This hat-trick wasn’t just the first of TNPL 2026, it marked Lingesh as the first bowler in the tournament’s history to accomplish such a feat.
Trichy’s Batting Nightmare Continues
The nightmare didn’t stop there for Trichy. Jafar Jamal became the fourth batter to fall for a golden duck, putting them down six wickets with only six runs on the board. By the time V Athisayaraj Davidson also perished without scoring off his first ball at the tail end, a mind-boggling five Trichy batters had recorded golden ducks. Lingesh finished with spectacular figures of 3/14 and was rightly named Player of the Match. He and fellow bowler Manimaran Siddharth absolutely shredded Trichy’s lineup, claiming a total of seven wickets for just 25 runs between them. Trichy’s innings was a horror show, finishing all out for 99 in just 15.4 overs.
What’s Next: The TNPL 2026 Final
With that crushing performance, the Kovai Kings have punched their ticket to the TNPL 2026 final! They’ll face the Madurai Panthers on August 28 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Madurai secured their spot in Qualifier 1 due to rain and a better league standing, while Kovai battled through to Qualifier 2 after their Eliminator game was washed out. Kovai seized their opportunity against Trichy, and now both teams are just one win away from hoisting the TNPL 2026 trophy. This final is going to be intense!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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