Srinagar, Aug 05: The 14th edition of the Yousuf Memorial Inter-College Cricket Tournament concluded with a thrilling final match at the Islamia College Cricket Ground. In a display of outstanding sportsmanship, Government Degree College FRISAL emerged victorious, defeating PGKU-11 to claim the coveted championship.
The gripping final saw GDC Frisal winning the toss and opting to bat first. Their batters exhibited remarkable composure, unleashing an array of delightful shots that kept the Post Graduates of Kashmir University’s bowlers on the back foot. Despite early setbacks, Faisal Manzoor’s impressive knock of 54 runs off 26 balls, alongside significant contributions from Irfan Gulzar (29) and Danish (24), propelled GDC Frisal to a competitive score of 163 in their allotted 20 overs. Majid Lone shone as the standout bowler for PGKU-11, securing an impressive 4-wicket haul for 28 runs.
Chasing the target, PGKU-11 faced an uphill battle after star batsman Asim Bashir’s early dismissal by Faisal Manzoor. Despite valiant efforts by Gowhar Altaf (28) and Ruvail (17), PGKU-11 struggled to maintain momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals. GDC Frisal’s Faisal Iqbal and Bilal Najar played pivotal roles in restricting PGKU-11’s progress, taking 3 and 2 wickets respectively. Faisal Manzoor’s all-around brilliance earned him the well-deserved Man of the Match title, while Asim Bashir was named the Man of the Series for his consistent performances throughout the tournament.
The championship, which featured the participation of 18 teams from colleges across Kashmir, was lauded for promoting cricketing talent and fostering healthy competition among young players.
The post-match ceremony witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Dr. Khurshid Ahmad Khan, Principal of ICSC Srinagar, Dr. Shah Jahan Wani, Principal of GDC FRISAL, and Dr. Musavir Ahmad, Director of Physical Education at Kashmir University, among others. The runner-up trophy was awarded by Dr. Shah Jahan Wani to PGKU-11, while the new champions were crowned by Dr. Khurshid A. Khan. Both officials and players were recognized and honored for their outstanding performances.
The event was seamlessly hosted by Dr. Mir Hanief from the Department of English, with the vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Zahoor Ahmed Sofi, ensuring a fitting conclusion to the memorable cricketing tournament.
