Thrissur Titans secured the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) championship by defeating Calicut Globe Stars by four wickets in a closely contested final, successfully chasing a target of 168 with three balls remaining.
Calicut Globe Stars posted 167 for nine in their 20 overs, with Calicut captain Rohan Kunnummal winning the toss and electing to bat. Rohan started briskly, scoring 21 runs off 17 balls, including a six and two fours in the second over. Early wickets fell, with Varun Nayanar dismissed for two. Akhil Scaria and Ashwin Anand then stabilised the innings, adding 73 runs off 49 balls. Scaria scored 45 before being dismissed by Biju Narayanan, and Anand followed soon after with 40, leaving Calicut at 144 for four. The Titans’ bowlers then curtailed the scoring, restricting key batsmen Salman Nizar, Abdul Basith, and Krishnadev to 16, 14, and seven runs respectively.
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Abdul Ramees was the leading bowler for Thrissur, taking three wickets, while Anand Joseph and Sharathchandra Prasad claimed two wickets each.
In response, Thrissur Titans reached 169 for six
In response, Thrissur Titans reached 169 for six in 19.3 overs. Openers Vishnuraj and K R Rohit fell early, scoring eight and 18 runs respectively. The match turned in Thrissur’s favour through an 87-run partnership between Ahmad Imran, who scored a match-winning 69 off 49 balls with seven fours and two sixes, and Sanjeev Satheesan, who scored 29. Both combined cautious and aggressive batting to maintain the chase.
Calicut’s Jose Perayil dismissed both Imran and Satheesan in the 16th over, but captain M S Akhil contributed an unbeaten 19 off 11 balls to steer the Titans to victory. Other contributions included Nikhil Thottath with 14 and Mohammed Inan with eight runs. Ibnul Aftab and Jose Perayil each took two wickets for Calicut Globe Stars.
Ahmad Imran was named Player of the Match for his crucial half-century. Mohammed Azharuddeen of Alleppey Ripples received the Player of the Tournament award for scoring 596 runs, including three centuries, earning the Best Batter accolade as well. M Nikhil of Thiruvananthapuram Royals claimed the Best Bowler award with 18 wickets, while Mohammed Inan of Thrissur Titans was honoured with the Promising Youngster award. The Aries Kollam Sailors received the Fair Play prize.
Source: thenewsmill.com
