BHUTAN TODAY The New Perspective
By Staff Reporter
In a gripping finale held at the Jigmethang Cricket ground yesterday, SKD ALL STARS defeated Dragon Strikers by four wickets to be crowned the T20 Smash cricket tournament 2021 champions.
It was SKD ALL STARSโ first appearance and maiden win at a tournament final despite having participated in few other editions of the same tournament. However, their opponents, Dragon Strikers, are already two time champion of the same edition.
After winning the toss Dragon Strikers chose to bat first. However, they lost both their opening batsmen, Sanjog Chhetri and Captain Tenzin Wangchuk, cheaply at a score of 36 after eight overs.
Sanjog was caught behind by the wicketkeeper ManojAdhikarioff kinzangWangchukโs bowling and Tenzin Wangchuk was out Leg Before Wicket (LBW) off JigmeSingye.
Pasa Wangdi steered the ship for the Strikers with 28 runs of 33 balls before being run-out by an electric fielding from Jigme N Dorjiat the covers position. It was SKDs young gun, fast bowler TsheringDorji, who bagged the pricy wicket of man in form for the Strikers Suprit Pradhan and Tobden Singye in the same over that changed the course of the match.
The remaining batsman added a mere 43 runs from last five overs taking the total to 132 runs.
Dragon Strikers got the start they wanted as they bagged the wicket of opener Jigme N Dorji in the second over. Strikers opening bowler Thukten J Yoezer added woes to SKDs batting line-up as he went on to bowl-out Namgang Chojay the first ball of the sixth over and also sending backSKDs star player JigmeSingye caught and ball the very next ball.
SKDs all-rounder Wangten was joined by their most experienced player and wicket-keeper Manoj Adhikari in the middle. Manoj went on to play a matured innings of 27 runs of 30 balls that kept the SKD on the hunt and on the other hand Wangten played a fearsome innings of 43 runs of 33 balls.
With a partnership of 70 runs between the two it took SKD closer to the target before Manoj was out LBW of Sanjeevanโs bowling. Wangten was caught out the next over of Suprit Pradhanโs bowling. Suprit went on to take his 13wicket of the tournament when he got MikyoDorji stumped in the same over.
SKD needed four of nine balls to win that Sherub Jamtsho pulled for a huge six down the leg side to give SKD their first title. Wangten was awarded the man of the match.
SKDs JigmeSingye walked away as the best batsman of the tournament, Suprit Pradhan from Dragon Strikers as the best bowler and Tashi Palden was awarded the best fielder with Nu 3000 each as cash prizes. Suprit Pradhan was awarded as the most valuable player and walked away with Nu 10,000.
