Govind Dev Paiβs unbeaten 82 set up Trivandrum Royalsβ winning total
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
TrivandrumΒ Royals overcame a sloppy fielding display and a counter attacking innings fromΒ SachinΒ Baby to score a 14-run win overΒ AlleppeyΒ Ripples, and continue its mid-tournament resurgence with a fourth straight win, in the Kerala Cricket League at the Sports Hub Greenfield stadium on Monday.
Ripples were in the hunt when Baby, who was dropped on 35, andΒ K.A. Arun allied for a 98-run third wicket stand. But the chase was scuppered when the former was caught at long-on by Krishna Prasad off medium pacerΒ NikhilΒ for 91 (49b, 8×4, 5×6). Arun (37), who was dropped twice, fell to a diving catch byΒ AbhishekΒ P.Β NairΒ at point offΒ N.P. Basil. The mounting run-rate proved to be tough for the Ripplesβ lower order as Basil bowled a tidy second spell to finish with four for 32.
Earlier, openerΒ AbhishekΒ (57, 30b, 5×4, 2×6) ran into form and helped Royals overcome a slow start. Govind DevΒ PaiΒ (82 not out, 50b, 6×4, 5×6) chose his attacking moments sensibly to play a well paced innings as Royals seized control of the middle overs.
The duo added 85 runs for the second wicket beforeΒ SibinΒ GirishΒ took three wickets to check Royalsβ progress. ButΒ SijomonΒ Joseph infused the much-needed momentum with aΒ quickfire, unbeaten 31 (13b, 4×6) to help Royals add 63 runs from the last four overs.
The scores: Trivandrum Royals 194/4 in 20 overs (Abhishek P. Nair 57, Govind Dev Pai 82 n.o., Sijomon Joseph 31 n.o., Sibin Girish 3/37) bt Alleppey Ripples 180/6 in 20 overs (Sachin Baby 91, K.A. Arun 37, N.P. Basil 4/32).
Published – August 31, 2026 07:52 pm IST