Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 27: Star-studded Jammu Riders team, which is basically Simula Sports Club, trounced strong Jammu Janbaz team, originally National Cricket Club (NCC) by 13 runs in a tough summit clash to claim the title trophy of the first ever Jammu Premier League (JPL) T20 Tawi Cup at MA Stadium, here today.
During the final match, in jam packed MA Stadium, Jammu Riders skipper Dhruv Mahajan won the toss and elected to bat first on a batting friendly track.
Openers Hilal Rather and Anshuman Sharma began in style, hitting flurry of boundaries in first five overs to make a partnership of 46 runs before lanky speedster Mayank Gautam dismissed them on two consecutive deliveries in 7th over of the match.
Then skipper Dhruv Mahajan along with current Ranji Trophy captain Hardeep Singh consolidated the innings and guided the team to a total of 144 runs in the stipulated 20 overs.
Hardeep top scored with unbeaten 52 runs, while Anshuman Sharma contributed quick-fire 31 runs including 5 fours and one six. Dhruv also contributed 31 runs with the help of 2 boundaries and one maximum.
For Jammu Janbaz, Mayank Gautam was pick of the bowlers, who captured 3 wickets by conceding 24 runs in his four overs, while wrist spinner Deepak Singh Manhas bagged 2 wickets and Nitin Mehra claimed one.
In the second inning, Jammu Janbaz openers, began the chase superbly before off-spinner Sameer Khajuria trapped consistent and dangerous looking Ashu Kumar LBW at his individual score of 25 runs and then the wickets started to fall at regular intervals.
Finally, the team fell short of just 13 runs as they managed to score 131 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Tournament top scorer Manish Dogra contributed 41 runs including 4 boundaries, while Ashu Kumar and Gokul Baru chipped in 25 and 20 runs respectively.
Sameer Khajuria was the wrecker-in-chief for Jammu Riders, who scalped 4 important wickets in his four overs by giving away 21 runs, while speedster Ram Dayal captured 2 wickets.
Leg-spinner Manik Gupta and speedy offie Dhruv Mahajan claimed one wicket each.
Sameer Khajuria was adjudged man of the match for his superb bowling show, while elegant left-handed opener Manish Dogra was named man of the series for scoring 323 runs in the tournament including 3 big half-centuries.
On the occasion, Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports, RS Chib was chief guest, who distributed prizes among the winners and runners-up teams.
The winner Jammu Riders team was awarded a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh along with a glittering trophy by the chief guest, while the runners-up team received a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh.
The winners of man of the series and man of the match awards were also presented cheque of Rs 1 lakh each.
The team of technical officials including the two umpires in the final-Rajesh Dhar and Col Piyush Mahajan along with match referee Sadiq Hussain, third umpire Saleem-ur-Rehman, scorer Pankaj Sasan, Rajan Slathia and commentator Bashir Ahmed were also felicitated on the occasion.
Dog show, Horse show, Brass band and Mass band displays were organised by the Army, which were highly appreciated by the audience with thundering applause.
Speaking on the occasion, Chib said that sports and games shape careers of youth and youth is the pivotal force in building a healthy society. He said that the tournaments like KPL and now JPL serve as a launching pad for the cricketers in general and the players from rural areas in particular to hone their talent and skill at the higher levels.
Chib declared that JPL and also KPL will be the regular features and will also be followed by a cricketing extravaganza namely Jammu Kashmir Premier League (JKPL). “More and more youngsters will be promoted for advanced coaching and training via JKPL,” Chib maintained.
Earlier, in his address, Lieutenant General, AS Nandal presented the welcome address and expressed gratitude to all the organizers for their endeavour in making this tournament a grand success. He said that there is euphoria of cricket world-over, so watching cricketers is a joy for everybody. He further said that the tournaments like JPL would serve the State in exploring the talent from grass-root level.
Among others present were Vinod Koul, Secretary Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports, Jaipal Singh, Director Youth Services and Sports, Kiran Wattal, Secretary J&K State Sports Council, Madan Lal, Joint Director Youth Services and Sports, Siddharth Sharma, Joint Secretary Council, Ashok Kumar, Deputy Director (Central) DYSS, SS Bali, Deputy Director, Jammu DYSS, SM Bali, Secretary General Handball Federation of India, Ranjeet Kalra, member BCCI, Ashutosh Sharma, Ramesh Mahajan, besides Army officers/officials and senior citizens.
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