Anantnag, Sep 22: In a thrilling showcase of cricketing talent, the UT-Level Cricket Tournament, organized by the Department of Youth Services & Sports and hosted by Anantnag, has been a rollercoaster of matches, culminating in the qualification of Anantnag for the semi-finals and Srinagar’s unfortunate elimination.
The tournament, under the supervision of the Joint Director of Youth Services & Sports Kashmir, entered its second day with some exciting matches that kept cricket enthusiasts on the edge of their seats.
In Match 2, Budgam faced off against Srinagar, and it was Budgam that emerged victorious by a narrow margin of just 6 runs. Budgam won the toss, and Musaib’s impressive performance, scoring 19 runs in 21 balls, earned him the “Man of the Match” award. On the bowling front, Shah Nubaib from Srinagar took 3 wickets in just 2 overs, conceding only 17 runs. Despite their efforts, Srinagar fell short by 6 runs in a nail-biting contest.
Match 3 saw Bandipora taking on Baramullah, with Baramullah emerging victorious by 14 runs. Rashid Reyaz’s brilliant performance, scoring 21 runs in 20 balls, played a pivotal role in Baramullah’s win.
Match 4 between Pulwama and Anantnag ended in a tie, with Iqram’s quick-fire innings of 24 runs in 16 balls for Pulwama and Abu Bakar from the same district taking 3 wickets in just 2 overs.
In Match 5, Pulwama faced Srinagar and emerged victorious with a commanding 39-run margin. Athar Rashid’s explosive 37 runs in 16 deliveries led Pulwama to victory, while Yasir from Srinagar claimed 2 wickets in 3 overs. Pulwama’s Burhan shone with the ball, taking 3 wickets in 3 overs.
Match 6 witnessed Anantnag dominating Srinagar with a one-sided encounter, winning by 7 wickets. Srinagar could only manage to score 94 runs, with Suhaib Nazir from Anantnag taking 3 wickets in a 4-over spell. Nazir’s brilliant performance wasn’t limited to bowling; he also scored 65 runs in 26 balls and was declared the “Man of the Match.”
In Match 7, Bandipora triumphed over Kupwara by 7 wickets, with Babar’s impressive 56 runs in 44 balls leading the way.
Match 8 saw Pulwama facing Budgam, where Burhan scored 23 runs of 19 balls for Pulwama, but it was Budgam who emerged victorious by 6 wickets. Moomin took 4 wickets in 4 overs for Pulwama, while Musaib claimed 3 wickets in 4 overs for Budgam. Akhter Akbar’s 36 runs in 35 balls secured the win for Budgam.
In Match 9, Ganderbal emerged victorious over Srinagar. Ganderbal, after winning the toss, elected to bat, with Mehran top-scoring with 33 runs in 16 balls. Shah Lubaib from Srinagar tried to stage a comeback with his 45 runs, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win for the team.
In the last match of the day, Anantnag faced Budgam, with Anantnag winning by 23 runs. Suhaib Subzar’s explosive 60 runs in 29 balls for Anantnag proved crucial in securing the win.
As the tournament progresses, Anantnag has secured its place in the semi-finals, while Srinagar has become the first district to be eliminated from the competition. Cricket enthusiasts eagerly await more thrilling matches as the tournament continues to unfold.
