Pune: The Sultans of Sindhi defeated Hemu Kalani Gladiators by 10 wickets & won the title of Sindhi Premier League season 5. This match was played in two innings on the lines of Test cricket. 9 overs were played in each innings. All-rounder Dheeraj Manwani was Man of the Match in final. The tournament was conducted for 24 days at the Mrunal Cricket Graund, Pimpri Chinchwad.
Hemu Kalani Gladiators won the toss and elected to bat. Hemu Kalani Gladiators scored 55 for 4 in 9 overs in the first innings and restricted Sultans of Sindh to 49 to take a lead of just 6 runs. Gladiators could not perform well in the second innings either. They scored 44 for 8 in 9 overs and set up a target of 50 runs for a win to Sultans of Sindh. Except for Ankush Ahuja’s 24 runs in the first innings, no other batsman could reach double figures. In both the innings together, Hanish took 3 for 40 runs, Amit 3 for 20 runs and Dheeraj Manwani took 2 wickets for 22 runs.
Trailing by 6 runs in the first innings, the Sultans of Sindh had played well. With a target of 50 runs to win in the second inning, the Sultans of Sindh entered in the field with a winning determination & played an aggressive game. In the first innings, openers Sunny Sukheja (24) and Dheeraj Manwani (19) continued performance and scored 13 & not out 13 respectively in the second innings. Dabboo Aswani (15) and skipper Amit (6) led the Sultans of Sindh to victory. Yatin Mangwani took 2 for 32 runs and Pawan Punjabi took 2 wickets for 20 runs.
The Sindhi Premier League was organised with an aim to encourage the community to participate in sports, preserve Sindhi culture and also help social organisations, said organiser Hitesh Dadlani & Kanwal Khiyani. The money collected through this tournament was given as donations to the organizations. A dialysis machine worth Rs 7.5 lakh was given to ANP Care Foundation, 1.5 lakh was given to Mamta Balasadan Sanstha of Sindhutai Sapkal, and Rs 50,000 was given to the school for blind girls in Alandi this year, he added.
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Ganga Worriers won in the Women SPL
For the first time in the Sindhi Premier League, a women’s tournament was held this year. Six teams participated in it. The final match was played between Ganga Warriors and Jhelum Queens. Ganga Warriors cruised to a 48-run win over Jhelum Queens on the back of skipper Sheetal Aswani’s blistering 34-ball 95 and 3-for-4 bowling. Batting first, the Warriors scored 114 for 4 in 8 overs. Jhelum Queens got off to a good start with a tough challenge of 115 runs. However, as opener Anjali Aswani (12) retired hurt & Neha (18) and Yakrit (24) were dismissed early in the middle of the batting, then Jhelum Queens’ innings ended for just 66 runs in 7.4 overs as the other batsmen failed. Sheetal Aswani won the Man of the Match award.
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Scoreboard : (Men)
Hemu Kalani Gladiators : 1st innings – 55-4 (Ankush Ahuja 24, Amit 8-2), Sultans of Sindh : 1st innings – 49-7 (Sunny Sukheja 24, Dhiraj Manwani 19*, Pavan Panjabi 12-2, Yatin Mangwani 19-1, Narendra Lund 10-1)
Hemu Kalani Gladiators : 2nd innings – 44-8 mit 8-2 lost vs Sultans of Sindh : 2nd innings – 52-2 (Dabbu Aswani 15, Sunny Sukheja 13, Dhiraj Manwani 13*, Yatin Mangwani 13-1, Manish Katariya 22-1)
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Scoreboard : (Women)
Ganga Warriors – 114 for 4 in 8 overs (Sheetal Aswani 95, Neha 15-2) Won vs Jhelum Queens : 66 all out in 7.4 overs (Yakrit 24, Neha 14, Anjali Aswani 12, Sheetal Aswani 4-3, Samya 5-2)
