Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 1: Despite a brilliant knock of 79 runs by Paras Sharma of Rajput Cricket Club, JKP XI clinched a thriller to lift the title of the 1st Jammu and Kashmir Friendship T20 Cricket Cup for Peace, organized by the Young Star Cricket Club (YSCC) at Jammu University Grounds, here today.
Yogesh Sawhney, former Minister of State for Sports was the chief guest on the occasion, while Ranjeet Kalra, chairman media committee JKCA and member J&K State Sports Council was the guest of honour. Manzoor Ahmad Batt, patron YSCC and Ahtshyam Batt, general secretary YSCC were present on the occasion.
18 teams drawn from all over India participated in this weeklong cricketing extravaganza.
Earlier, in the summit clash, batting first, JKP XI scored a decent total of 157 runs in the stipulated 20 overs, losing 6 wickets in the process. Farooq top scored with 67 runs, while Naresh contributed 22 runs to the total. Farooq played some delightful shots in his power-packed knock. For Rajput Cricket Club, Chotu and Jatinder scalped 3 wickets each.
In reply, Rajput Cricket Club rode on a splendid knock of 79 runs by Paras Sharma and equally valuable knock of 57 runs by young Gagandeep Singh chased the score upto the last ball of the match and finally lost the match by a whisker as they managed 155 runs in the allotted overs. Paras was magnificent in his drives, cuts, pulls, punches and lofts and sent the bowlers on a leather-hunt before getting out in the 19th over of the match to change the complexion of the game. Gagandeep, on the other hand, hit some lusty blows in his gutsy knock. For JKP XI, Amamdeep and Vishal took 2 wickets each. Some Police Officers including RK Bhat and skipper Rajesh Gill were part of JKP XI. Paras Sharma was adjudged man of the match, while Parveen of Tamil Nadu was adjudged man of the series.
The winners JKP XI was presented a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 25,000 by the chief guest, while the runners-up team received a cash prize of 15,000 and a trophy by the chief guest.