Dubai: The Kerala Premier League first round matches have produced an excellent treat for cricket lovers here through sterling performances from top cricketers. Spectators at the ICC Academy got to see international stars like Sohail Tanvir and Azhar Mahmoud in action.
Tanvir hit 39 from 22 balls with two fours and three sixes, while Mahmoud smashed four boundaries and a six in his 18-ball 31 to help Danube Idukki Spices reach 189 for six in their allotted 20 overs. Restricting Globelink Weststar Pathanamthitta Rajas to 172 for 9 through a deadly four-wicket spell from Rana Dastagir, Idukki won by 17 runs.
Soon after the match, Idukki suffered a huge blow with Mahmoud being ruled out from rest of the tournament due to a freakish accident when his Quad Car overturned and the rod in the car hit his ribs. Though X-Ray reports and CAT scan did not reveal any fracture, there was concussion in his ribs because of the impact of the fall and has been advised three weeks rest.
Twin Info Alleppey Ripples gave Yogi Group Thrissur Dynamites a lesson on giving their best in the match. Thrissur, who were riding high after beating a star-studded Danube Idukki, crashed to a three-wicket defeat to Alleppey. Though Thrissur posted a challenging 157 for 6 in 20 overs they could not stop Alleppey’s veteran player Babar Malek and Shehzad Malek, who hit half centuries each, despite Thrissur’s Shehzad Manna and Salman Farris taking three wickets each.
Defending champions Avant Grade Logistics Palakkad Harverstors registered victories over Farooq CC Calicut Zamorins by 30 runs and One Stop Tourism LLC Kollam by 49 runs.
Promising cricketers continued to perform in the tournament with Calicut Zamorins and UAE Under-19 team left-arm spinner Justin James, who took three wickets for 25 runs against Kannur Veeran, again shone with a three-wicket haul for 23 runs in the match against Capital Kochi Diwans.
