Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 28: Praful Dhar, Virender Thusoo, Ravi Pandita, Rakesh Koul and Surinder Bhat were star performers and powered RCC Bulls and Sai Cricket Club to resounding victories over their rivals to seal berth in the semifinals of the ongoing Kashmiri Pandit Premier League (KPPL), being organised under the banner of Iqwaat Sports Organisation, an initiative of Kashmiri Pandit Samaj at MA Stadium, here today.
The tournament is being played with an objective to promote sports and the cause of unity among Kashmiri Pandit youth.
Earlier, in the first match, Sai Cricket Club defeated Kashmir Rangers Cricket Club by 20 runs.
Batting first, Sai Cricket Club scored a modest total of 120 runs in the stipulated 20 overs, losing 5 wickets in the process. Skipper Surinder Bhat top scored with 41 runs off 45 balls, while Rajat Safaya contributed 30 runs to the total. Amit Wali and Sahil Raina chipped in with 11 runs each. For Kashmir Rangers, Rohit took 2 wickets, while Vishal, Sagar and Amit claimed 1 wicket each.
In reply, Kashmir Rangers managed to score 100 runs by losing 9 wickets in the allotted overs, thus lost the match by 20 runs. Rohit, Sagar and Rahul scored 25, 22 and 18 runs respectively.
Virender Thusoo was the wrecker-in-chief for Sai Cricket Club, who took 4 wickets by conceding 15 runs in 4 overs, while Surinder Bhat took 2 wickets. Virender Thusoo was adjudged as the man of the match.
In another quarterfinal match played today, formidable RCC Bulls thrashed Satan Cricket Club in an easy contest by 8 wickets.
Satan Cricket Club won the toss and decided to bat first. Batting first, Satan Cricket Club bundled out for meagre total of 67 runs. Sunil Raina (22) and Sushil (17) were the main contributors. All the bowlers from RCC Bulls hit good areas, but off-spinner Praful Dhar was the pick of the bowlers, who spun web around the rival batsmen and took 3 important wickets by conceding just 6 runs in his 3 overs, while Shubham Kher bagged 4 wickets and skipper Rakesh Koul claimed 2 wickets. Rahul Mussa also clinched 1 wicket.
In reply, RCC Bulls chased the target easily by losing just 2 wickets to win the match by 8 wickets. Ravi Pandita played a magnificent innings of unbeaten 44 runs off 41 balls, studded with 7 delectable boundaries and one massive six, while skipper Rakesh Koul remained unbeaten on 15 runs. For Satan Cricket Club, Sushil and Akash Bhat shared 1 wicket each. For his splendid bowling display, Praful Dhar was declared as the man of the match.
Former Ranji Trophy skipper and Duleep Trophy player Ashwani Gupta was the chief guest on the occasion who presented man of the match award to the winner, while Sandeep Singh Sunny, Ranji Trophy player was the guest of honour.
In the first match, Dr TK Moza was the chief guest.
The match was officiated by BK Tickoo and Vijay Raina as umpires, while the tournament is being organised by Rajesh Dhar, Ankur Bagati and Ashish Kachroo.
Now, in the semifinals to be played tomorrow, KC Young Strikers will lock horns with Sai Cricket Club at 9 am, while RCC Bulls will take on Milchar Cricket Club at 1 pm.
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