Dubai: Winchester School girls emerged as new champions in the ninth edition of the Maxtalent Global Sports-organised Vision Cup Under-17 tournament, defeating GEMS Modern Academy with one over to spare. It was sweet revenge for Winchester who had lost to Modern Academy in the final last year.
It was a disappointing blow to two-time champions GEMS Modern Academy to lose this tournament held under the aegis of Emirates Cricket Board with six teams: GEMS Modern Academy, JSS school, Sharjah Indian School, Winchester School Jebel Ali, Indian High School Dubai and Gulf Indian High School competing in the event.
Modern Academy were the favourites with Shreya Shreeram being consistent at the top of the order along with UAE national team player Bonifilia Pereira running havoc with the ball along with Jayati Sarkar.
For Winchester School, Namitha Dsouza and Alia Packeeraily were the most important cogs in their team.
In the final, Winchester School elected to field and picked up three quick wickets of Modern Academy. Skipper Sarkar steadied the boat - scoring 26 off 16 balls before falling to a brilliant catch by Sanchita Shekhar on the deep square leg boundary.
Chasing the target, Winchester School lost Alia Packeeraily early but Namitha d’Souza batted with maturity to score 20 off 22 balls.