Dubai: Players from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, and Afghanistan continued to steal the limelight in the Kerala Premier League which is reaching the semi-finals stage.
Pakistan A team player Mohammad Rameez bowled a brilliant spell for Yogi International Thrissur Dynamites to bag three wickets for 16 runs backed by UAE player Shadeep Silva and Anish with two wickets each to bowl out Springs Cricket Academy Trivandrum Royals for a paltry 86 runs in 17.2 overs.
In fact, Trivandrum would have been bowled out for even smaller score but for Adnan's fighting 32 runs.
The strong Thrissur batting line-up found the total too small and raced to victory in just 16.4 overs with Goan Ranji trophy player Avadoot Amonkar hitting an unbeaten 26. "Folllowing this victory, Thrissur has got 10 points and is in third place while CSS-Alleppey and Dunes-Kannur maintain their number one and two spots with 13 and 10 points respectively.
Waynad is in fourth position with seven points having finished all their games. With only one game left in the league stage between Xpress Money-Calicut and Dunes-Kannur, it seems that the semi-finals spots are almost confirmed. CSS Allepey may take on Trotters Waynad while the second semi-final could be between Dunes Kannur and Yogi Thrissur," remarked John Jacob Thomas, the KPL Director to Gulf News.
In another match, good batting by Salman Farooq and Fardan Khalid helped Xpress Money — Farooq C.C. Calicut Zamorins open their account in the points table beating Wedlock-Malappuram.
In Umm Al Quwain, Abdul Hamsheed and Akbar Rana hit half-centuries to help Emirates NBD win the second Junior Corporate Twenty-20 League by defeated Al Futtaim Honda by seven wickets.
Batting first on winning the toss, Al Futtaim Honda set up a victory target of 173 for Emirates NBD which the winners attained in 18.1 overs losing three wickets.
In the Under-19 division of the Nissan Gulf Cup organised by Young Talent Cricket Academy (YTCA) under the auspices of the Dubai Cricket Council, in form Reuben Abraham steered YTCA to convincing victories over G Force and Desert Cubs respectively on way to the final of the Under-19 division.
Scores
Yogi Intl. Thrissur Dynamites bt Springs Cricket Academy Trivandrum Royals by 7 wickets. Trivandrum 86 in 17.2 overs (Adnan 32, Mohammad Rameez 3 for 16, Shadeep Silva 2 for 25, Anish 2 for 10) Thrissur 90 for 3 in 16.4 overs (Swapnil Patil 21 n.o., Avadoot Amonkar 26 n.o., Nelson 2 for 10). Man of the Match: Mohammad Rameez.
Xpress Money - Farooq C.C. Calicut Zamorins bt Wedlock Malappuram Knights by 3 runs. Calicut 146 for 9 in 20 overs (Sujith R. 20, Salman Farooq 36, Fardan Khalid 36, Shanil 3 for 25) Malappuram 143 for 8 in 20 overs (Aneesh Kakkot 54, Nadir 24, Farhan Khawaja 2 for 31, Abdullah Hanif 3 for 35, Salman Farooq 2 for 22). Man of the Match: Salman Farooq.
