![Jubilant Simula Cricket Club players posing for a group photograph after win against KCCC in Jammmu on Friday. Jubilant Simula Cricket Club players posing for a group photograph after win against KCCC in Jammmu on Friday.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/clent-4.jpg)
Winter Shield T20 Cricket Cup
*Face JCC, Diamond Club in last four stage
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 5: Unsung left-arm spinner and veteran of many battles, Kuldeep Kumar spun web around the rival batsmen to scalp 5 important wickets and Simula Cricket Club to the semifinals, while Sukha’s brilliance with the willow helped Horizon Cricket Club Samba to seal berth in the last four stage in the ongoing Winter Shield T20 Cricket Cup, being organized by State Cricket Academy (SCA), J&K State Sports Council under the supervision of its Secretary Dr Naseem Javaid Choudhary at Parade Ground, here.
In the first match, Horizon Cricket Club defeated KC Sports Club in an easy contest by 33 runs.
Batting first, KC Sports Club scored 144 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. Karan top scored with 30 runs, while Abhishant Bakshi and Arvind contributed 23 and 22 runs to the total respectively. From Horizon Club, Sohib, Brijesh, Sukha, Ashish and Gourav took 1 wicket each.
In reply, Horizon Club rode on Sukha’s brilliant 74 runs to chase the target in 17.1 overs by losing 3 wickets to win the match by 7 wickets. Sukha’s innings was an amalgam of elegance, grit and class, while Piyush and Preeti also contributed valuable 28 and 24 runs to the total respectively. From KC Sports Club, Vivek and Vicky took 1 wicket each. Sukha was declared as the man of the match for his splendid knock.
In another quarterfinal match, Simula Cricket Club defeated KCCC by 6 wickets.
Batting first KCCC scored a modest total of 106 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Jatin Wadhawan (31), Aqib (27) and Paras Sharma (18) were the main scorers. From Simula, Kuldeep Kumar was the wrecker-in-chief, who took 5 important wickets by conceding just 9 runs in his 4 overs, while Akash, Ritik, Vikram and Raman claimed 1 wicket each.
In reply, Simula Cricket Club chased the target in 19.4 overs for the loss of 7 wickets, thus won the match by 3 wickets.
Shashi top scored with 33 runs, while Puneet and Hanan contributed 23 and 18 runs respectively. From KCCC, Sahil and Sawan took 2 wickets each, while Manik Gupta, Soumay Jain and Bandeep Singh claimed 1 wicket each. For his superb bowling display, Kuldeep Kumar was declared as the man of the match.
The matches were officiated by Vijay, Dayal and Ashok Singh.
In tomorrow’s fixture, Simula will take on JCC in the first semifinal at 10 am, while Horizon Club will lock horns with Diamond Club in the second semifinal at 1.30 pm.