Vathsal Govind's blistering 93 guided Aries Kollam Sailors past Alleppey Ripples, while Mohammed Enaan's late sixes sealed a dramatic one-wicket win for Thrissur Titans over Trivandrum Royals in the Kerala Cricket League.
A captain's knock of 93 off 53 balls from Vathsal Govind powered Aries Kollam Sailors to a six-wicket win over Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League at the Sports Hub Greenfield Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a target of 187, Sailors recovered from losing opener Arun Polouse for a duck to reach 187 for four with 14 balls to spare. Vathsal, who was dropped on 0 and 67, hit 11 fours and three sixes, building a 96-run second-wicket stand with Abhishek J. Nair (52) to secure Sailors' second win of the tournament.
Earlier, Alleppey Ripples posted 186 for three in 20 overs behind an unbeaten 100 off 51 balls from Mohammed Azharuddeen, who hit six fours and seven sixes. Azharuddeen was dropped four times (on 27, 29, 60, and 75), added 101 runs for the second wicket with Sachin Baby (40), and hit 19 runs in M.D. Nidheesh's final over. K. Ajinas was the pick of the bowlers for Ripples, taking 2 for 45.
In the day's other encounter, Thrissur Titans climbed to the top of the points table after pulling off a thrilling one-wicket win over Trivandrum Royals. Royals had scored 181 for six in 20 overs, driven by Govind Dev Pai's unbeaten 76, Abhishek P. Nair's 40, and Krishna Prasad's 30, with Biju Narayanan picking up 2 for 27.
Titans responded with 183 for nine in 19.4 overs, anchored by Shoun Roger's 68. After Sijomon Joseph (3 for 7) took three wickets in the penultimate over to leave Titans needing 17 runs, Mohammed Enaan (41 not out off 15 balls) hit C.V. Vinod Kumar for three straight sixes to clinch the victory.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.