Dubai: The stage is set for a spectacular final in Kerala Premier League with two teams — Seven Seas Trivandrum Royals and One Stop Tourism Kollam Kernels set to clash for the winners’ purse of Dh125,000. This two teams which fought the toughest of odds to make it to the final will battle for glory at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Oval ground, which has dressed up for the clash with colourful banners all around the boundaries. The clash is also a battle between two teams named after two close neighbouring districts with Trivandrum being the capital of Kerala and Kollam, an old sea port city.
Trivandrum stopped Globelink Weststar Pathanamthitta Rajas by five wickets while Kollam down Dunes Cuisine Kannur Veerans by six wickets in the semifinals. The final will be held on November 21.
Speaking to Gulf News, Irfan Ansari, the coach of the Kollam team, said: “We have proved through our victories that local cricketers are kings. They defeated teams made up of top international stars to reach the final. All I had to do was instill confidence in the players constantly by telling them to play to their strengths.”
It was a disappointing end for Danube Idukki Spices that lifted the profile of the tournament by inviting Pakistan International players like Shoaib Malek, Sohail Tanvir and Azhar Mahmood and Sri Lankan stars such as Isuru Udana and Mhela Udawatte. Trivandrum upset their plans to reach the final, playing at their best on the day to oust them in the quarter final.
Though Idukki lost, Anis Sajan the owner of Idukki team who flew in the top stars said: “KPL is the most significant T20 tournament in the UAE and has been organised with precision to match the standards of the Indian Premier League. So I was extremely motivated to contribute to KPL in some way and by inviting the big stars to take to the field.”
Spectators got to see former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malek smash an unbeaten 41 runs to help Idukki beat Kaddas-Twin Info Alleppey Ripples to reach the quarter final. Shoaib also picked three wickets in the match to bag the man of the match award.
In the quarter final against Seven Seas, Shoaib hit 24 runs but the most entertaining knock came from Sohail Tanvir, who hit six fours and one six in his 52 off 42 balls but none expected Idukki to crash out after posting 145 for 7. Wasim Haider with 41 runs and Salman Afzal through an unbeaten 32 ensured a six-wicket victory There were some stunning performance from domestic cricketers. Waqas Ahmad hit a whirlwind half century that helped Kollam Kernels defeat Yogi Group Thrissur Dynamites in the quarter finals by 41 runs. He smashed four boundaries and six sixes in his 21-ball 59. In fact, he reached his half century in just 15 balls.
Ibrahim Mudasir ‘s 51 runs that helped Trivandrum reach the final beating Pathanamthitta Rajas smashed three boundaries and two sixes in his 43-ball 51. He also picked two crucial wickets from his four overs giving away just 15 runs.
