6, 4, 6 in final over: Anand Joseph sends ball soaring to take Thrissur Titans to KCL-3 final

Published: September 04, 2026 06:53 PM IST

Anand Joseph delivered a match-winning three-ball cameo, hitting two sixes and a boundary to secure a one-wicket victory for Thrissur Titans against Trivandrum Royals.

Thrissur Titans achieved their first-ever Kerala Cricket League final appearance after successfully chasing a target of 164, with Joseph’s heroic performance in the final over sealing the dramatic win.

Trivandrum Royals posted a competitive score of 163/5, thanks to an unbeaten half-century from Akshay Manohar and a crucial partnership with Nikhil M, despite initial struggles to build momentum.

Anand Joseph produced a stunning three-ball cameo as Thrissur Titans edged past Trivandrum Royals by one wicket to reach their maiden Kerala Cricket League final at Greenfield Stadium in Karyavattom on Friday.

Chasing 164, Thrissur were staring at defeat at 149/9 after 19 overs. Needing 15 runs off the final over, Joseph got on strike on the third ball. Akshay Chandran’s first ball to him was a wide. Then came a six, a boundary, and another six to seal the win with one ball to spare.

Joseph’s final six sent the Titans into the final in dramatic fashion, completing one of the most remarkable finishes of the tournament.

Earlier, an unbeaten half-century from Akshay Manohar helped Trivandrum Royals post 163/5.

The Royals struggled to build partnerships in the early stages, losing wickets at regular intervals. Opener Vishnu Vinod was dismissed for seven, while Abhishek P Nair and Sijomon Joseph contributed 28 and 20 respectively.

The Royals were reduced to 93/5 in 14.2 overs before Akshay and Nikhil M steadied the innings. The pair added valuable runs without losing another wicket, with Nikhil scoring 28 and Akshay remaining unbeaten as Trivandrum reached 163/5.

Anand Joseph and Biju Narayanan took two wickets each for Thrissur.

In the chase, Thrissur made a brisk start through Rohit K R, who smashed 16 off eight balls. Ahammed Imran then anchored the innings with a composed 43 off 35 balls to keep the Titans on course.

Shaun Roger and Nikhil Thottath added 23 and 24 respectively, while captain MS Akhil scored a crucial 27.

But with wickets continuing to fall, Thrissur were reduced to 149/9 after 19 overs, leaving them needing 15 runs from the final six balls.
Joseph then walked in and turned the match in Thrissur’s favour.

Rahul Chandran was the pick of the Royals’ bowlers, finishing with three wickets.

Thrissur will face the winners of the second semifinal between Alleppey Ripples and Calicut Globstars in the KCL final.