KCL cricket: Calicut Globstars ends Alleppey's semi-final dream

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Calicut Globstars beat Alleppey Ripples by six wickets in the Kerala Cricket League match on Monday. Calicut won the toss and sent Alleppey to bat. Alleppey scored 144 runs at the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Calicut went into bat with a target of 145 runs and won the game in the last ball of the 16th over.

Sanjay Raj scored an unbeaten 75 off 48 balls for Calicut that included two sixes and nine boundaries. Calicut lost the wickets of Ajinas (two), Omar Abubakar (nil) and Rahan Sai (14) while Liston Augustine scored 38 runs off 21 balls including two sixes and four fours. Salman Nisar hit the last ball of the 16th over for a six and scored the winning run for Calicut. Sanjay Raj (75) and Salman Nisar (12) remained unbeaten.

Alleppey crumbled from the very start of the innings as opener P. Antaf returned to the pavilion with just one run in three balls. Captain Muhammad Azharuddin (15) and Vinoop Manoharan (six) were quickly dismissed as Alleppey slumped to 29 for three.

TK Akshay's half-century helped Alleppey reach a decent total of 144. Akshay’s 57 runs from 45 balls included two sixes and five boundaries. Asifali scored 27 runs from 27 balls and bolstered the partnership.

Alappuzha's run chase slowed as Vaishakh Chandran (three), Ujjwal Krishna (nil) and Atul Diamond (12) got out quickly. Alleppey's batting ended at 144 for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.

Calicut Globstars, Aries Kollam Sailors, Adani Trivandrum Royals and Phineas Thrissur Titans have qualified for the semifinals.