The sponsor’s team, Gulf Lights, lifted the second division title in the Gulf Lights Cricket Tournament 2018 after they beat Rapidrop by five wickets in the final.
After they were put into bat first, Rapidrop lost their first wicket, opener Jeyu, in the third over. However, their batsmen stabilised as they had put on 48 runs on the board by the sixth over for the loss of one wicket.
Jiga emerged as the mainstay of the batting line-up scoring a 22-ball 47, a knock that including five sixes and two hits to the ropes. Ravi and Akshay added 25 runs each as Rapidrop put on 174 runs on the board for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Among the Gulf Lights bowlers, Parvez scalped two wickets while Omer, Asif, Maqsood and Sarvar picked up a wicket each.
In reply, Gulf Lights too started strong reaching the 50-run mark in the sixth over at the loss of 2 wickets.
But then their batsmen pushed the scoring rate at a blistering pace, reaching the 175-run target in the fourth over for the loss of six wickets.
Fahad was the top-scorer for his team, hitting four sixes and a boundary in his 30-run knock. Asif’s 28-run knock included three sixes and a boundary, while Iqbal Junior assisted with 24 runs (three sixes).
For Rapidrop, Jiga took two wickets, while Divyesh, Jayu, Vijay and Ravi scalped a wicket each.
Asif’s all-round performance earned the Gulf Lights player the Man of the Finals award.
Asif’s teammate, Sarvar, received the Best Bowler of the Tournament award, while Rapidrop players Sandeep and Jiga were presented with the Best Batsman and the Best All-rounder awards. Al Zaman Exchange’s Pankaj was given the Best Wicketkeeper award.
At the prize distribution ceremony, Gulf Lights managing director Sanaullah was the chief guest, and he distributed the trophies to the winners and the runners-up, besides giving away over 300 prizes. The ceremony was attended by supporters and well-wishers, and concluded with a lucky draw for the spectators.