Battle for KPL semi-final slots in full swing

Dubai:

An intense battle is on for a place in the semi-finals of the Kerala Premier League (KPL) being held at the ICC Global Cricket Academy under the auspices of the Dubai Cricket Council.

The second week of the KPL concluded with Phoenix Medicine Kollam Kernels finishing on top in Group A with eight points and remaining unbeaten in the tournament. In Group B, Capital Kochi Diwans, through a sterling performance after their only defeat to Thrissur Dynamites Yogi Group, has topped the table with six points.

Speaking to Gulf News, C.T.K. Nasir, one of the directors of the KPL,said: “The battle is so stiff that it is now difficult to predict who will make it to the semi-finals. It is indeed a great show from Kochi who are playing excellent cricket. Thrissur Dynamites Yogi Group hasn’t lost a single game and has picked six points from three games. They are now second based on run rate and with the strong Wayanad team recovering from their loss to Kochi, it is anybody’s chance.”

The next stage of the KPL will commence from November 22 (Thursday) with the semi-final scheduled for November 30 and final on December 2.

“Though in Group A, Kollam is ahead with eight points, Concord Ventures Pallakad Harvesters has played three matches and lost only one match. Their run rate is also very impressive. Defending champions Dunes Cusine Kannur Veerans is also in this group,” said Nasir.

The matches which resume from November 22 to 25 are likely to give a clear picture of which will four teams will be making it to the semi-final. The first semi-final will be between the top team from A group against the team that finishes second in B group and the second semi-final will be between the top team from B group against the second-placed team from A group.

Wayanad team coach Gopal Jasapara believes that his team will make it to the semi-finals. “We are peaking at the right time and if we keep playing like we played against Trivandrum we will be unstoppable.” Wayanad recorded the biggest win of 135 runs against Trivandrum with their opening batsman Rizwan Amanat cracking a century.