Karthik Manikandan shines as Salem Spartans ended their TNPL campaign on a winning note

SKM Salem Spartans ended their TNPL 2026 campaign on a winning note, defeating iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans by 45 runs in their final league-stage outing. After posting 169/8, Salem’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to restrict Tiruppur to 124, with Karthick Manikandan’s maiden TNPL half-century and Rahil Shah’s three-wicket haul proving decisive.

Abishiek and Boopathi Vaishna Kumar, who combined for 47 off 26 deliveries, helped SKM Salem Spartans get off to a flying start. Before Eshwar and Karthick Manikandan rebuilt the innings with a 59-run partnership, Mathivanan's three-wicket haul for 18 brought Salem within striking distance. Salem reached 169/8 in 20 overs thanks to Karthick's first TNPL fifty, setting Tiruppur a 170 target.

Amith Sathvik and Tushar Raheja wanted to put pressure on the Salem attack, so the Tiruppur Tamizhans started the chase with good intentions. However, Poiyamozhi provided the first breakthrough, removing Amith Sathvik with a well-disguised slower delivery.

Veteran spinner Rahil Shah then turned the game on its head with three quick wickets, leaving Tiruppur in trouble. Raheja, on the other hand, maintained the pursuit with a steady fifty minutes and consistently established boundaries.

Tiruppur was briefly held in check by Raheja's brave 75, but M Mohamed's crucial breakthrough decisively shifted the momentum in Salem's favor. The Spartans won by 45 runs after the lower order was unable to recover, and Rahil Shah's three-wicket haul was crucial to the defense. With their first win of the season in their final game, Salem concluded their TNPL 2026 campaign on a winning note.

Reflecting on the loss, Mohamed Ali said - Credit to Salem for putting up a strong fight. We bowled well and fought back, but Karthick Manikandan played exceptionally under pressure. We were let down by our batting; losing early wickets hurt, and the middle and lower order haven't contributed enough, making us too dependent on the top three.

Reflecting on the win, Captain Abishiek said- I’m taking the result as it is. We deserve the criticism, but we’ll come back stronger next year. Our biggest learning is that we need to build stronger partnerships in the batting department.