Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 17: Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) XI, Rainawari Cricket Club and Simula XI registered victories over their rivals to advance in the ongoing Christmas Twenty-20 Cricket Cup, being organized by J&K Christian Organisation in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Police Department at Parade Ground, here.
Earlier, in the first match, J&K XI drubbed Bhathindi Cricket Club easily by 65 runs. Batting first, JKP scored 117 for the loss of 4 wickets in 16 overs. Skipper Rajesh Gill (46) and Amit Sharma (23) were the main contributors. For Bhathindi, Nasir, Kalu and Elais claimed one wicket apiece.
Bhathindi CC, In reply collapsed at 52 runs in 15.3 overs. Affried was the only batsman to cross double figure mark, scoring 13 runs. For JKP XI, Dilbag claimed 3 wickets, Shamsher bagged 2 and Rajesh Gill and Sunil Sharma picked one wicket each. Rajesh Gill was adjudged man of the match.
In another match, Rainawari Cricket Club defeated Ishar XI by 12 runs in a close contest. Rainawari Club scored 121 runs in the stipulated 15 overs, losing 4 wickets in the process. Ishan was the top scorer with 41 runs, while Bansi Lal and Manjeet contributed 31 and 24 runs respectively. Irshad took 2 wickets for Ishar XI, while Pavit Singh Ishar claimed one.
Ishar XI, in reply could manage to score 109 runs in 14.3 overs, thus lost the match by a narrow margin of 12 runs. Amrit Pal was the top scorer with 33 runs, while Suhail contributed 22 runs to the total. For Rainawari Club, Showket Ali took a hat-trick, while skipper Kuldeep also claimed 3 important wickets. Rohit Sharma claimed one wicket. Showket Ali was adjudged man of the match.
In yet another match of the day, Simula XI was declared winner over Atman Cricket Club. Batting first, Simula scored 154 runs in the stipulated overs. Shashi scored unbeaten 62 runs, while Puneet and Sameer Khajuria contributed 37 and 25 runs respectively. For Atman Club, Burhan and Anoop scalped 3 wickets each, while Kamal Kishor claimed one. Atman were 41/3 in 5 overs when controversy hit the match and the organizers decided to declare Simula XI winner in the match. Vishwajeet claimed 2 wickets, while Sameer Khajuria bagged one.