Dubai: Karnataka Premier Cricket League (KPCL), one of UAE’s most popular community cricket tournaments, concluded with debutants Petrotek Nucaf Kateel stopping defending champions Mysore Royals ANIB XI on Top by four wickets in the final held at the Ajman Oval Cricket Grounds.
The tournament, held under the auspices of Ajman Cricket Council which staged its third edition for the Kannadigas based in the UAE, was intensely contested by the finalists as well as New Star Karkala, Prince XI Padubidri, Al Sitara Cricketers Karkala and Coastal and Mangalore Club.
Mysore Royals elected to bat first, but lost Vijay Dsouza for 17 but their in-form captain Mahesh Shetty and Shinoy John put on 131 runs for the second wicket. Mahesh Shetty hit 87 runs off 55 balls with 10 boundaries and three sixes. After Shetty’s departure, Nelson Pinto (2 for 29), Prashanth Shetty (2 for 29) and Pradeep Hegde (2 for 23) restricted Mysore to 168 in 19.5 overs. Shinoy John chipped in with 52 runs off 39 balls.
Chasing the target, Petrotek Nucaf Kateel got off to a good start through Jayson Denzil (30) and Prashanth Braggs (26). Captain Santosh Kotian (40 in 32 balls) and Ubada Barmawar (27 in 23 balls) put on a 60-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Petrotek reached the target in 18.3 overs.
The prizes were given away by Thomson D’Silva, Chairman of KPCL and CTK Nasir, Director of Nucaf who were the sponsors.
Former UAE opener Ramveer Rai, who as a 17-year-old boy had made One Day International debut against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup in 2004 and topscored with 39 runs against an attack made up of Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan, was adjudged the player of the tournament. He scored 176 runs and took five wickets for Mysore.
His skipper Mahesh Shetty won best batsman award for scoring 259 runs while Nisar Arekkal of New Star Karkala with seven wickets won the best bowler award.
