Media Release
Kuwait, Apr 12: A total of 20 teams participated in the Oriental Trophy-2021 (Season-II) tournament. The teams were divided into four groups consisting of 5 teams each. The top 2 teams from each group were qualified for the knockout stages but the two undefeated titans of the tournament, Mangalore Friends Cricketers (MFC) and Magic XI reached to the grand finale of Oriental Trophy-2021 (Season-II) on Friday April 2 at 10 am, Kuwait time.
MFC was put to bat first. MFC batsman Sunil Sundara Poojary scored a brilliant 37 runs off 15 balls including 5 sixes and Melwyn Dsouza scored 34 runs off 13 balls by hitting 4 huge sixes. MFC managed to put the total of 121 on board for the fall of 9 wickets in 10 overs.
As the required run rate for Magic XI was 12.2 per over the chasing team lost its early wicket. Skipper Clinto V showed rising hope in the minds of his teammates by knocking 32 runs of 11 balls. But that did not last long as he was caught and bowled by the pace bowler of MFC who took his wicket at a very crucial juncture. The pressure on the chasing team made them lose their wickets on a regular interval.
28 runs were required from the final over with 3 wickets in hand. MFC part-time bowler Wender Botheju picked a wicket and also restricted them to score just 8 runs off that over. The final score of Magic XI was 102/8. Thus the team Mangalore Friends Cricketers were the crowned champions of Oriental Trophy-2021 (Season-II).
Despite losing the toss, MFC had a spectacular win over Magic XI by 20 runs in the thrilling finale match at Kings XI ground, Abbasiya, Kuwait on April 2.
Sunil Sundara Poojary from MFC was awarded 'Man of the match' in the final and Clinto V from Magic XI as 'Best Batsman' while Parvindar Kumar from MFC was 'Best Bowler' of the series and Adil Naziri from Ruzdan XI was named 'Player of the series' for his brilliant performance in the league matches.
There was plenty of recognition in other areas, such as Oriental Restaurant food vouchers for Man of the Match of each quarter-final, semifinal, the star performer of the week and for the first hat trick bowler.
Sathischandra Shetty, chairman of Oriental Group in Kuwait and Shodhan Shetty, captain of Oriental Cricketers, presented the Winners Oriental Trophy-2021, prize money of KWD 350 to winning Captain Jason Dsouza and to his team and Runner up Oriental trophy and prize money of KWD 200 to runner-up Captain Clinto V and to his team.
Oriental team manager Praveen Kumar Shetty, All Oriental Cricket teammates, official Nishad were present.