Inaugural Wular Cricket Tournament concludes

Srinagar, June 23: The inaugural edition of Wular Cricket concluded today at Amberpora Sopore, with Sultan Warriors Baramulla defeating Dadoo Rangers by 2 runs in a nail-biting finish.

Sultan Warriors, after winning the toss, posted a moderate total of 150. Skipper Imtiyaz Lefty led the charge with a 40-ball 53, supported by Waseem Kachuru's quick-fire 31 off 15 balls. A late flourish by Javid Jaddu helped boost the total.

Dadoo Rangers' bowlers maintained pressure with timely breakthroughs. Amir Ali was the standout, claiming 4 wickets for 26 runs in his 4 overs. Asif Manzoor (1/13) and Jahid Trag (2/33) provided valuable support.

Chasing 151, Dadoo Rangers' top order stumbled, losing their ace batter Adil Guldon for a duck on the first ball. At the halfway mark, they were struggling at 69/5. However, skipper Asif Manzoor (43 off 33) and Gowhar Leggy (29) staged a comeback with a 66-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

A spectacular catch by Imtiyaz Lefty dismissed Manzoor, turning the tide. In a tense final over, Dadoo Rangers needed 14 runs. Faisal Dar scored 11 off the first four balls, but Manzoor Dar's experience helped Sultan Warriors clinch the title.

For Sultan Warriors, Gowhar Rashid (2/19) and Nadeem Dar (2/27) were the most effective bowlers.

At the presentation ceremony, Imtiyaz Lefty was awarded both Player of the Match and Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.

The tournament was a resounding success, drawing thousands of spectators. Online viewership on JKSportsTimes' Facebook platform reached lakhs, while the digital scoring platform recorded over 200,000 views.

The tournament organisers expressed gratitude to the public for their enthusiastic support and to the participating teams for their contribution to the league's success.