Doha: Pallonji Lifts Tulu Koota Cricket Cup

Report and pics: Alexis castelino
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha

Doha, Mar 19: Pallonji Qatar won the cricket tournament and annexed the trophy, by defeating Qalco by 32 runs, in the finals of the fourth annual Softball Invitational Cricket Tournament hosted by Tulu Koota Qatar.  The tournament concluded with the grand final match played between Pallonji Qatar and Qalco at the old Ideal Indian School Playground on Friday March 18 at 6.00 pm.

In the evening, Koota president, Ramachandra Shetty, welcomed the gathering as well as the executive committee members.  The guest of the evening, Diwakar, working as general manager of Rise and Shine, was introduced to the players. He wished good luck to the teams, and urged the players to perform with true sportsmanship spirit, irrespective of whether they win or lose the match.

After winning the toss, Pallonji elected to bat.  Pallonji scored 151 runs for the loss of wickets in the allotted 15 overs. In putting up a formidable total, it was helped by a brilliant performance from Shailesh. Akhil scored 26, Raviraj scored 24, while Sarfraz of Qalco took two wickets for 31 runs Naseeb and Naeem scalped one wicket each. In reply, Qalco managed to score only 119 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 15 overs. Naseeb managed to score 31 runs, while the other batsmen failed to put up an impressive performance towards building a big total, because of excellent bowling and fielding performances from Pallonji team, which emerged as the winners of the tournament. Shailesh from Pallonji Qatar won the man of the match award for his all-round performance.

A total of 16 teams, namely Hannan, Pallonji, Tulukoota, Al Muftah, SKMWA, Tech Solutions, QDC, Lagaan, OHL, Al Fajer, Qatar Tec, MCC, HILTI, KSQ, ATS and QALCO, participated in the tournament.

Initial matches were played on league basis, by forming a total of four pools, with each pool having four teams.  KSQ, Pallonji, Qalco and Almuftah qualified for the semi-finals.  More than 250 people witnessed the final match, in spite of bad weather.  Cheer girls entertained the gathering with their awesome dances and steps in tune with the music.

On the evening of Thursday March 17, the first semi-final match was played between Qalco and KSQ. Upon winning the toss, Qalco elected to field. After a poor start, the KSQ’s chances of posting a huge total was further curtailed by the fall of wickets at regular intervals. In the allotted 12 overs, KSQ could score only 69 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Usman was the top scorer for KSQ with 22 runs. Ifzal took three wickets for Qalco. Chasing the small target of 70, Qalco got off to a brisk start from Muzamil and Rifas, who put on 61 runs for the first wicket. Qalco could achieve the target in just 7.1 overs, for the loss of Rifas’s wicket. Rifas scored 29 runs. Qalco won the match by by nine wickets, with Ifzal of Qalco having been adjudged as the man of the match award for his all-round performance.

In the second semi-final of the day, Pallonji defeated Al Muftah (CCTC) by seven wickets. AlMuftah won the toss and elected to bat first. AlMuftah innings started on a bad note as they lost opener Naveed in the second over itself. However the reliable pair of Irruddin and Khurram lifted Almuftah chances after the initial loss, as they put on 32 runs for the second wicket in four overs. Irruddin departed after scoring 23 runs. The next batsmen to come in could not accelerate the score, as they came across some brilliant bowling from Jerry and Aftab. Aftab gave only four runs in two overs. At the end of the 12th over, AlMuftah managed to score only 89 runs, loosing five wickets in the allotted 12 overs.  Khurram was the top scorer for AlMuftah with 34 runs. Jerry took two for 14 in two overs. Pallonji's run chase got off to a bad start as they lost the consistent Mansoor, the hero of the quarter final match for Pallonji. After this, Raviraj ensured that Pallonji safely reached the target of 90 runs as he was involved with an unbroken partnership of 45 runs. Pallonji reached the target in 10.5 overs, loosing three wickets. Mansoor of Pallonji was adjudged the man of the match

At the prize distribution ceremony, Kiran Anand, sports secretary of the Koota, welcomed the gathering. Chief guest of the evening was M Nizar, managing director of M/s Qatar Multitech WLL, guest of honour was Asmathi Ali, a golden sponsor of the event. These dignitaries, along with K M Verghese, ICC president, Nelugueshdey ICBF president, and Ravi of Shine and Rise, were present at the dais.  All the guests are welcomed with flower of bouquets on behalf of the committee.

Koota president addressed the gathering, and thanked each and every one who supported the tournament as well as committee members for their hard efforts.

Chief guest, M Nizar, handed over the winner’s trophy to the Pallonji captain, while K M Verghese handed over the runners up trophy to the Qalco captain. All the winning and runners up team players were felicitated with individual trophies and gift coupons. Mementos were also handed over to the players who were adjudged the man of the match in the league and knock out matches on the occasion.

Best bowler of the tournament was Zahir of KSQ, best batsman of the tournament was Khurum of AlMuftah, and Man of the series was Shailesh of Pallonji.  Shailesh was also awarded for his unique performance in the tournament in which he had scored a brilliant 163 runs in 36 balls, and in which he had completed his century in only 25 deliveries. He also had hit six sixes in one over.

Golden sponsors were M Nizar, managing director - M/s Qatar Multi Tech WLL, and Ashmath Ali, managing director - M/ Golden Trading and Decoration.

Main sponsor was Ravi Subramanian, managing director - M/s Rise and Shine Trading Qatar.
Support sponsors were Sudhir NP, H R manager- M/s OHL Construction International, Abdul Rehman, managing director - M/s Hannan, Rajendra K, M/s Ozone Trading, Narayan Hegde, managing director - M/s Intermodel Services, R Venkatesh Babu, project director - Kuwait Network Electronics Technology Co WLL, Rony Fernandes - M/s Shajan Trading, Nasar of M/s Fashion Line, and Ravi Shetty, managing director of M/s Advance Technical Services.

Associate sponsors were Alexis Castelino – Daijiworld, and Siraj, M/s Signal Services.

ICC head of affiliations and Counsellor Services, Milan Arun, Karnataka Sangha Qatar president, Arun Kumar, SKMWA president, Abdulla Mono, KSQ sports secretary  Deepak Shetty,  senior members of the Koota, Prakashchandra Ajila, Ravi Shetty, Prakash Rao, Mohan Jeppina Mogaru, Seetharam Shetty, Shridhar Nayak, Sudir Kotian, founder members and EXCOM members were also present at the function. 

Pallonji team players were Chidanand – team manager, Neeraj Bake (captain), Shailesh Kanchan, Raviraj, Jerry, Akil Rehan, Dinakar Puthran, Mansoor (wicket keeper), Ayub, Aftab, Naveed Ahmed, Nissar, Amul, Allwyen.

Qalco Team players were Shaid Iqbal (captian), Naveen – team manager, Naseeb Ullah, Ifzal, Muzamil, Sarfraz, Nadeem, Imran, Rifas, Naeem, Rakesh (wicket keeper), Tallah, Rehan and Anwar. Kiran Anand hosted the evening, while Uday Shetty proposed the vote of thanks.

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