Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 19: Sailing on superb knocks by middle-order batsmen Parveen Singh and Manjeet Singh, Rainawari Cricket Club drubbed Simula Cricket Club by 5 wickets in the semifinals to seal berth in the finals of the ongoing Christmas Twenty-20 Cricket Cup, being organized by the J&K Christian Sports Organisation in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Police at Parade Ground, here.
Now, Rainawari Club will lock horns with JKP XI which is already in the finals.
Earlier, winning the toss and batting first, Rainawari Club bowlers restricted star-studded Simula Club to a modest total of 135 runs in the stipulated 20 overs. Shashi slammed a brilliant half-century (51), studded with 5 fours and one six, while skipper Dhruv Mahajan contributed 29 runs to the total. Vishwajeet Singh chipped in with 22 runs. For Rainawari Club, skipper and left-arm spinner Kuldeep Kumar took 2 wickets, while Venus, Manjeet Singh and Satish claimed one wicket apiece.
In reply, Rainawari Club reached the target easily in 18 overs, losing 5 wickets in the process, thus won the match by 5 wickets. At one point of time, Rainawari Club was struggling at 35/4 in 8 overs, but a splendid knock of 62 runs by Parveen Singh, with the help of 8 boundaries and 3 sixes and his big partnership of 98 runs with Manjeet Singh helped Rainawari Club to win by 5 wickets. Manjeet hit 4 boundaries in his brief knock. Both the batsmen played with fluidity and grace and struck boundaries at will. For Simula Club, Vishwajeet, Dhruv Mahajan, Shashi and Vikram claimed one wicket each.
Parveen Singh of Rainawari Club was adjudged man of the match for his fabulous knock.
The match was officiated by Sandeep and Suhail as umpires.
Mr Nicodemus was the chief guest in today’s match, who donated Rs 10,000 to the organizers as cash prize for the winners, while Fr Kuriakose, Chairman J&K Christian Organisation presented Rs 5,000 to the organizers as cash prize for the runners-up team.
Meanwhile, the valedictory function along with Raffle Draw of Sports Carnival for Youth of J&K will be held at 4 pm tomorrow. The first prize in Raffle Draw will be Honda Activa, second HCL Tab and third Colour Television.