Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 14: By reaching the finals in both male and female categories of 58th National School Games Under-19 Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament, Jammu and Kashmir has created history and will clash for gold in both the categories, here tomorrow.
Earlier, in the boys semifinal, J&K drubbed Jharkhand easily by 37 runs in a rain-hit match.
Winning the toss and batting first, J&K, sailed on superb contributions from star performer of the tournament Hinan Nazir and Bhuran and scored 74 runs in the stipulated 10 overs. Hinan contributed magnificent 33 runs, while Bhuran made valuable 27 runs.
Chasing the target, Jharkhand were struggling at 37 runs in 7.3 overs, when they conceded the match as the conditions in no way favoured them-neither the weather conditions not the match situation. Though Jharkhand had already conceded the match, yet the organizers as per the International Tennis Ball Cricket rules, declared Jammu and Kashmir winner via net run-rate. For Jharkhand, Sourab took 2 wickets. Ashutosh and Roshan scored 12 and 13 runs, while Mubasher took 2 wickets for Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir will meet MP in the finals, who defeated Goa in a thrilling contest in the semifinals.
Batting first, Goa scored 57 runs in 10 overs. Giridhar was the only batsman to cross double figures as he scored 13 runs, while Nihal contributed 8 runs to the total. Jai Raj scalped 3 wickets for Madhya Pradesh.
In reply, MP also made 57 runs in 10 overs and the match ended in a tie. So, the match was decided on a better run-rate in first 4 overs, wherein MP prevailed upon Goa. Manoj and Ajay Partap contributed 21 and 9 runs for Madhya Pradesh. Aniket, Heru and Nihal claimed one wicket apiece for Goa.
In girls section, J&K trounced Goa by 7 wickets in the semifinal to seal berth in the finals. Batting first, Goa scored 39/5 in 8 overs, with Yashoda contributing highest 19 runs. For J&K, Ruhi was the pick of the bowlers, who claimed 3 wickets. J&K, riding on a superb knock of 16 runs by Meenaz, the sole contender for women of the series award, chased the target easily in 3.5 overs. Ruksara contributed 14 runs to the total.
J&K will lock horns with Gujarat in the title clash tomorrow, as Gujarat defeated Chattisgarh in another semifinal.
Earlier, in the quarterfinals, J&K girls thrashed Tamil Nadu by 8 wickets in a one-sided affair. Tamil Nadu bundled out for a paltry total of 23 runs in 7.4 overs, while J&K in reply scored the required runs in just 2.4 overs. Meenaz scalped 4 wickets for J&K and scored unbeaten 12 runs, while Ruksara contributed 12 runs.
J&K teams are being accompanied by Farooq Ahmed Salroo, Anju Gupta, Jagtar Singh and Sandeepan as coaches and managers, while Narottam, a certificate course holder in Tennis Ball Cricket has also been hired by the Department to give tips to the players.
The matches are being officiated by BK Tickoo, Saleem-ur-Rehman, Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, Sajad Ahmed, Suresh Singh, Raj Kumar, Pankaj Sasun, Mukesh Sharma, Rakesh Khajuria, Satika Sharma, Anamika Khajuria, Sadiq Hussain Malik, Madan Mohan, Gourav, while Rajesh Dhar, Sanjay Raina, Parminder Singh Manhas and Manjeet Singh are the conveners of various venues.
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