Dubai: Sri Lankan cricketers hogged the limelight in the ongoing Kerala Premier League (KPL) at the ICC Academy Oval grounds with all-round performances and four wicket spells.

Former Sri Lankan Test star Dilhara Lokuhettige cracked 43 runs and bagged two wickets to steer Dunes Cuisine Kannur Veerans to a 17-runs win over defending champions Avant Garde Logistics Palakkad Harvestors. Kannur Veerans also defeated One Stop Tourism Kollam Kernels by four wickets through their another Sri Lankan star Sanjeewa Dais, who took four wickets for 26 runs.

Interestingly, Palakkad too put up a strong fight before losing to Kannur through their Sri Lankan players. UAE spinner Shadeep Silva, who hails from Sri Lanka bagged four Kannur wickets for 35 runs but his efforts went in vain. Palakkad chased the target through their skipper and veteran Sri Lankan cricketer Malintha Perera, who hit 26 runs.

In other matches, Yogi Group Thrissur Dynamites recorded an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Globelink Weststar Pathanamthitta Rajas through their Aadil Pati’s unbeaten 69 while Seven Seas Trivandrum Royals defeated Palakkad by 12 runs.

In Umm Al Quwain, Arabian Cricket Club and Hologram Players CC registered convincing victories to enter the final of the first Asics T20 League organised by the Umm Al Quwain Cricket Association.

In fifth Junior Corporate T20 League organised by the Umm Al Quwain Cricket Association, UAE Exchange-Xpressmoney will meet Brothersgas CC in the final.

The Umm Al Quwain events produced some fine performances.

In the first semifinals of the Asics T20 League, Hologram Players defeated Singh Diesel by five wickets while Arabian Cricket Club outclassed Spiders CC by 26 runs. Vishnu K Sukumaran of Hologram cracked an unbeaten 85 from just 38 balls including six fours and five sixes. Arabian Cricket Club won the match mainly through Jacob John who took three wickets for 19 runs and hit 27 runs.

Brother Gas reached the final through an exciting two-wicket victory against Tiger Steel with two balls to spare. Mohammad Hamza who had picked two wickets ensured the victory through an unbeaten 37.

The Fair Ground Oval is gearing up to host the UAE National Day Seven-A-side cricket festival to be held on December 2.