Calicut Globstars defeat Alleppey Ripples to set up KCL-3 final against Thrissur Titans

Calicut Globstars entered the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) Season 3 final after defeating Alleppey Ripples by 36 runs in the second semifinal at Karyavattom Greenfield Stadium.

Chasing a target of 219, Alleppey could manage 168/8 in their 20 overs. K A Arun top-scored with 82 off 46 balls, while captain Sachin Baby made 73 off 46, but their efforts were not enough to take Alleppey into the final.

Jose Perayil was the pick of the Calicut bowlers with three wickets, while Ibnul Aftab and Akhil Scaria claimed two each. Akhin Sathar took one wicket.

Calicut will face Thrissur Titans in the final at Greenfield Stadium on Sunday at 8 pm. Thrissur secured their place in the title clash after edging past Trivandrum Royals by one wicket in the first semifinal.

Put in to bat, Calicut posted 218/5 in 20 overs, with Varun Nayanar and Abdul Basith scoring half-centuries.

Calicut got off to a flying start as captain Rohan and Varun attacked the Alleppey bowlers from the outset. Varun struck two consecutive boundaries in the opening over, before Rohan hit two fours off T S Vinil in the next.

The pair took Calicut past the 50-run mark in the fifth over, adding 17 runs from Vinil's sixth over. However, Rohan's dismissal in the first ball of the ninth over slowed the momentum. He scored 45 off 27 balls, including five fours and two sixes.

Akhil Scaria and Jose Perayil were dismissed cheaply for four and five respectively, before Varun and Abdul Basith added 47 runs for the fourth wicket. Varun completed his half-century during the partnership and eventually made 59 off 42 balls.

With 16 overs completed, Calicut brought in Krishna Devan in place of Varun to accelerate the scoring. The move paid off, with Krishna Devan smashing a six off his second ball.

Krishna Devan and Basith added 26 runs in the over and put on 55 runs from just 17 balls. Basith was eventually run out for a blistering 53 off 24 balls, including six sixes.

Salman Nizar then provided the finishing touches with a series of big hits as Calicut reached 218/5. Salman remained unbeaten on 19 off seven balls, while Krishna Devan was not out on 24 off 11.
Ajith took two wickets for Alleppey.