Dubai: New teams that joined the second edition of the Kerala Premier League (KPL) hogged the limelight with Concord Ventures Palakkad Harvestors, Capital Kochi Diwans and Kollam Kernals Phoenix Medicines getting off to winning starts at the International Cricket Council Global Cricket Academy ground on Friday.
Cheered by hundreds of supporters, Palakkad downed Space Consolidated Shipping Services Alleppey Ripples by 64 runs, while Kochi scored an exciting two-run win over Globelink Weststar Shipping Pathanamthitta Rajas. Kollam outplayed Thumbay Kasargod Leopards by six wickets.
Speaking to Gulf News after Palakkad’s emphatic win, Sridhar Sarma, the owner of the team, said: “We are delighted to get off to a winning start with all our top players contributing very well. It is indeed a big boost being able to defeat Alleppey, who were last year’s semi-finalists.”
The Palakkad team is coached by P.G. Sundar, a former Ranji Trophy player who attributed the victory to a good team effort. Palakkad’s star performers were Sri Lanka international players Kaushalya Weeraratne and Malintha Pereira — Weeraratne cracked an unbeaten 56 off 25 balls with six fours and one six, while Pereira scored 45 off 36 with five fours and one six as they racked up 174 for seven before bowling out Alleppey for 109.
The most exciting match was between two newcomers in Kochi and Pathanamthitta. Despite posting only 113 for 9, Kochi — through disciplined bowling led by Jeevan, who took two wickets for 18 runs from 3.2 overs — bowled out Pathanamthitta for 111 with three balls remaining.
However, the star performer was UAE batsman Shaimon Anwar for Trissur Dynamites, who recorded victories on Thursday night and Friday.
On Friday, Anwar was in his usual aggressive mood and cracked 90 runs off just 54 balls with 12 boundaries and a six to help his team post 190 for eight. They then restricted Global Distribution Malappuram Knights to 171 for 8.
Trissur also beat Pathanamthitta by 11 runs on Thursday through knocks from Salman Faris (54) and Shehzad Mana (43).
