Blue Tigers roared, crowned champions of KCL 2025

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kochi Blue Tigers crowned champions of the second season of the Kerala Cricket League. Kochi defeated the defending champions Kollam Sailors by 75 runs in the final. Chasing a target of 182 runs, Kollam's reply ended at 106 runs in 16.3 overs. Vijay Viswanath, the ninth batsman who remained on the crease with 23 runs from 24 balls, was the top scorer for Kollam. Kollam's setback was that the top and middle order failed to perform well in front of the Kochi bowlers.

Kollam's pace was disrupted by the top order, with Abhishek Nair 13(9), Bharat Surya 6(5), Vatsal Govind 10(10), captain Sachin Baby 17(11), and wicketkeeper and superstar Vishnu Vinod 10(8) all giving dull performances. MS Akhil 2(3), Rahul Sharma 5(14), Sharafuddin 6(6), Amal AG 1(8), Ajay Ghosh 0(1) are the scores of Kollam Sailors. Jerin PS took three wickets for Kochi, while captain Sally Samson, KM Asif and Mohammed Ashiq took two wickets each. Ajeesh K took one wicket.

Batting first, Kochi Blue Tigers scored 181 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs. Kochi achieved the best score on the back of a brilliant half-century by opener Vinoop Manohar, who scored 70 runs in 30 balls. With the top and middle order, except Vinoop, fading, Kochi fell to 130 for seven. It was all-rounder Alfie Francis John scoring 47 runs off 25 balls that took the Blue Tigers to 180. Vinoop was out for 70, leaving Kochi at 83. The left-handed batsman's innings included nine fours and four sixes. Co-opener Vipul Shakti 1(5) and captain Sally Samson 8(12) who came in at number four, were quick to return.

The scores of the other batsmen who were dismissed were as follows: Mohammed Shanu 10(13), wicketkeeper Nikhil Thottath 10(14), Ajeesh K 0(3), Jobin John 12(8), Mohammed Ashiq 7(6). Jerin PS 2(4) remained not out. For Kollam Sailors, Pawan Raj and Sharafudeen took two wickets each, while Amal AG, Vijay Vishwanath, MS Akhil and Ajay Ghosh took one wicket each.