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Trivandrum Royals storm in Kerala Premier League final

Ibrahim Mudasir was the star for Trivandrum with a brilliant all-round display.

Trivandrum Royals’ Ibrahim Mudasir receives the man-of-the-match award. — Supplied photo

Dubai — Seven Seas Trivandrum Royals entered the Kerala Premier League season three final after defeating Globelink Weststar Pathanamthitta Rajas by five wickets in the first semi-final at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai.

Ibrahim Mudasir was the star for Trivandrum with a brilliant all-round display. Mudasir bagged two wickets for 15 runs to restrict Pathanamthitta to 135 for seven in 20 overs. Later, Mudasir’s half century was instrumental in Royals win.

Pathanathitta, put in to bat first, got off to a poor start despite some resistance from opener Chirag Suri, who scored a 41-ball 29. Top order batsmen Gnaneshwar Rao, Shaiman Butt and Hemant Kumar fell cheaply, but Sanjeev Martin and Ranjeeth Mani chipped in with some useful runs to rescue Pathanamthitta. Martin smashed three sixes in his 42 from 27 balls while Mani scored a run-a-ball 24 with the help of one six. Laxman later boosted the total with a 12-ball 18, including two fours and one six. Shafaqat Ali was the pick of the bowlers with 19 for three.

In reply, Trivandrum faced some initial troubles when they lost three wickets for 27 runs. Both openers Waseem Rana (4) and Sangeeth Joseph (4) were dismissed early by Laxman and Ranjeeth respectively. Anurag Nishad sent back Hasnain Raza for nine, but Mudasir prevented further trouble by stroking a good partnership with Jeevan, who chipped in with a 17-ball 18 with the help of two boundaries.

Mudasir smashed three boundaries and two sixes in his 43-ball 51. Later he received good support from Salman Fazal, who was unbeaten on 37 from just 18 balls, including two boundaries and three sixes. Waheed Ahmed remained not out on two as Trivandrum secured victory in 17.5 overs. Mudasir was later adjudged man of the match.