Aries Kollam beat Calicut Globstars by three wickets in last over thriller

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Aries Kollam Sailors secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over Calicut Globstars in the league match of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL). Chasing a target of 173 runs, Kollam achieved victory with one ball to spare. Calicut Globstars, who batted first, scored 172 runs in 20 overs, losing five wickets.

Captain Rohan Kunnummal's excellent batting laid the foundation for Calicut. The opening partnership between Omar Abubakar and Rohan Kunnummal took Calicut's score to 77. Omar Abubakkar's (47 runs off 28 balls) impressive innings came to an end when he was caught by Pawan Raj off the bowling of Ashik Muhammad. Salman Nizar then joined Rohan Kunnumal to take Calicut's score to 135. Rohan, who scored 61 runs off 48 balls, attempted to sweep a delivery from NM Sharafuddeen but failed and was clean-bowled. His innings included three sixes and five boundaries. Salman Nizar (37 off 26) was dismissed when Calicut's score was 160. M Nikhil (7) and Abhijith Praveen (12) remained unbeaten. For Kollam Sailors, Ashik took 2 wickets in 3 overs, conceding 21 runs.

Chasing a target of 173 runs, Kollam lost their first wicket in the fifth ball of the first over. Chandra Tejas, (4 runs off 5), was dismissed by Rohan Kunnummal off M Nikhil's delivery. Captain Sachin Baby (34 off 31) and Arun Paulos (44 off 24) combined to take Kollam's score past 50 in the sixth over. In the seventh over, Arun Paulos was dismissed by Anfal. By the end of the 10th over, Kollam had reached a total of 84 runs, having lost two wickets.

Kollam's captain Sachin Baby was dismissed by M Nikhil in the last ball of the 14th over. With 12 runs needed to win in the final over, Kollam achieved victory with one ball to spare. Kollam's NK Sharafuddeen was declared the Player of the Match.