Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Star-studded Jammu Riders trounced Kathua Knights by four wickets in a close contest today and will lock horns with strong Jammu Janbaz team in the summit clash of the ongoing Jammu Premier League T20 Tawi Cup on April 27 at MA Stadium, here.
Earlier, in the semifinal clash, Kathua Knights skipper won the toss and elected to bat first on a batting friendly track. However, apart from a good partnership between Shakir Ali (45) and Rahul Sharma (24), the team lost wickets at regular intervals and managed to score 121 runs in the stipulated 20 overs. Shakir hit 6 crispy boundaries in his knock, while Rahul smashed one four and one six in his brief knock. Sahil Sharma also contributed 15 runs off 15 balls with one boundary.
For Jammu Riders, Bandeep Singh, Sameer Khajuria and Hilal Rather captured 2 wickets apiece.
In reply, Jammu Riders batsmen had to toil hard while chasing a modest total as the rival bowlers, especially the spinners bowled with a nagging line and teasing length. However, Bandeep Singh’s sensible knock of unbeaten 29 runs guided Jammu Riders to an emphatic 4-wicket win to seal berth in the finals. Bandeep scored 29 runs in 31 balls with 3 boundaries, while Hardeep Singh and Ram Dayal contributed 18 and 12 runs to the total respectively.
Jitender Singh Jasrotia was the pick of the bowlers for Kathua Knights, who took 3 wickets by conceding 16 runs in his 4 overs, while Sahil Sharma, Rahul Sharma and Shiv Dutt claimed one wicket each.
Bandeep Singh of Jammu Riders was adjudged man of the match for his brilliant all-round display. He was presented man of the match by Commanding Officer, DD Swain, the chief guest on the occasion.
The match was officiated by Piyush Mahajan and Pankaj Sasan as umpires, Rajesh Dhar acted as match referee, while Saleem-ur-Rehman and Sadiq Hussain Malik officiated as third umpire and scorer respectively.
This cricketing extravaganza, in which 16 teams drawn from JPL Phase-1 participated is being organized by Army under Operation Sadhbhavana in collaboration with the Department of Youth Services and Sports.
Meanwhile, Minister for Medical Education and Sports, RS Chib announced holding of the final of Jammu Premier League T20 on April 27 at MA Stadium.
He said that the event is a part of the measures being taken to harness the budding talent in the game of cricket in the State, polishing them and providing them larger canvass at the national and international levels.
Making this announcement at a meeting convened to review the arrangements for the mega sports extravaganza, Chib spelled out salient features of the event. He elaborated that the objective of holding such sports events is to tap sports potential, especially in the rural and far-off areas of the State and to prepare them for big events.
He said outstanding cricketers emerging in these events would be deputed for specialized coaching at the country’s premier institutes like MRF Face Academy, Chennai and National Cricket Academy of BCCI.
“This will surely help talent grow in the State thus giving a new impetus to the efforts of placing J&K appropriately in the sports map of the country”, he added.
The meeting had detailed discussion on necessary arrangements like seating, barricading, transportation, medicare, power, etc and concerned were directed to ensure all services will be made will in time.
Among others present were Secretary Youth Services Sports Vinod Koul, Secretary Sports Council Kiran Wattal, Brigadier 16 Corp Rawat, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dilbag Singh, Director Information Khawja Farooq Renzushah, Director Youth Services and Sports JP Singh, Director School Education, GA Qureshi and other senior offices of different departments.
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