It's Friends Union vs Merchants (1) in final

Anish DV’s nine-wicket haul for the match helped Friends Union Cricket Club (2) record a seven-wicket win over Merchants Cricket Club (1) in the semifinals of the KSCA Group I, Division IV league cum knockout cricket tournament for Metro Shield at the Alur (2) ground here.

Friends Union will take on Visweswarapuram Cricket Club (1) in the final. Visweswarapuram outclassed Merchants Cricket Club (2) by 204 runs.

Merchants (1) batted first and posted an ordinary 235/8 in 55 overs, with Keshav (82) and Chandrashekar (61) hitting half-centuries. Anish was the most successful bowler for Friends Union, claiming four wickets (4/64). He was backed well by Lokesh Singh’s 2/40.

In reply, Friends Union rode on Varun’s 60 to score 304/9 in 55 overs, taking a lead of 69 runs in the process. Manu Ravindra took four wickets (4/72) for Merchants.

In their second essay, Merchants (1) scored at a brisk pace to put up 181/8 in 30 overs but that meant Friends Union had a small chase of 112 at hand. Anish emerged the wrecker-in-chief, scalping five wickets (5/73) for Friends Union.

Friends Union’s then overhauled the target in 14.4 overs, scoring 118 for the loss of three wickets.

Brief scores: All semifinals: At Alur (2): Merchants Cricket Club (1): 235/8 in 55 overs (Vijay Kumar 34, Santosh 37, Keshav 82, Chandrashekar 61; Lokesh Singh 2-40, Anish DV 4-64) and 181/8 in 30 overs (Shafaiz 25, Santosh 68 n.o.; Anish DV 5-73) lt to Friends Union Cricket Club (2): 304/9 in 55 overs (Dheeraj 45, Varun 60, Karthik S 43, Lokesh Singh 34; Vijay Kumar 3-69, Manu Ravindra 4-72) and 118/3 in 14.4 overs (Dheeraj 54 n.o.; Shahnawaz 2-36).

At Alur (1): Visweswarapuram Cricket Club (1): 268 all out in 55 overs (Varun Rao 37, Prithvi S 83, Abul Hasan Khalid 73, Nithin Gopalakrishna 36; Gowtham NJ 3-80) and 162/8 in 30 overs (Mohammed Lakdawala 36, Nithin S 32; Gowtham NJ 3-43) bt Merchants Cricket Club (2): 121 all out in 41.3 overs (Jibran 2-27, Anand Katti 3-16, Varun Rao 2-34, Sheetal K 2-28) and 105 all out in 29.4 overs (Bharat K 27; Jibran 3-26, Varun Rao 5-43).