Bhutan T20-Smash kicks off to a roaring start

By Staff Reporter
Thimphu

The Bhutan T20 smash 2021 officially started from 2019 and was supposed to be a yearly club tournament but had to be shelved last year due to the pandemic.
After 16 months of lull, organizers, the Bhutan Cricket Council Board (BCCB), were able to kick-start the tournament yesterday and the t20 smash is the first of all that they have organized.
In the inaugural match played yesterday between Dragon Strikers and Paro Virtual CC, the Dragon Strikers won by five wickets. Paro Virtual CC had made a cumulative run of 129/9 in 20 overs while their opponent, Dragon Strikers, reached 125/6 in just 14.3 overs.
In the other inaugural match, team Babesa Renegades fell to a 10 wicket loss to arch rivals SKD All Stars. The Babesa Renegades were all out for just 87 in 18.1 overs while SKD made 93/0 in just 6.5 overs.
The skipper of SKD All-Stars, Ranjung Mikyo Dorji, said it is a huge relief for the players and organizers to have resumed the tournament after a long lull of about 16 months which was largely fuelled by the pandemic.
He added that the matches take place under strict vigilance and covid-19 protocols so that everyone is protected during the tournament.
“The players are not allowed to come close to each other while celebrating a hit or a win, and we have to also practice strict hand hygiene and other protocols during the matches,” Miko Dorji said.
The Bhutan Cricket Council Board said the tournament will last for a month and it’s being played only during the weekends complying strict covid 19 protocols put in place.
Today, JDWNRH team will take on Dantak while in the other match Youth 11 CC will take on Babesa Renegades towards the evening. Both matches will be played Jigmithang Ground in Thimphu.
A total of nine teams will be taking part in this year’s T20 cricket tournament.