Report: Precilla Philip
Pics: Joachim D'Souza
Muscat, Jan 13 : 'Kudla Cup - Season 5' got off to a great start on Friday, January 8. Eleven popular teams representing Dakshina Kannada communities residing in Muscat registered to fight out the battle of the coveted Kudla Cricketing Champions Trophy in men’s category. ‘SYS’ – Srikanth, Yuvaraj, Suraj’ the Kudla Friends-Muscat, had set the lush green ground in its full form for a professional cricketing event.
Electrifying cricketing action was ensured as all the teams reported in their theme uniforms displaying the extraordinary professional standard of sports and the audience gallery also pepped up the mood with the respective supporters in their team theme colours. The venue was all set to witness yet another spirit filled, energized sporting community event, much awaited by each and every Kudlite in this season of the year.
Sports specialist Suraj took charge of the teams’ formation and 11 team captains reported. Accordingly the fixtures and schedules of matches were formatted and planned by Srikanth and Yuvaraj.
The following teams participated in the tournament:
1. Oman Billawas
2. South Kanara Muslim Brothers
3. MCCP Oman
4. Muscat Mogaveers
5. Bearys
6. Kulal
7. Bunts Oman
8. Vishwakarma
9. Konkanas
10. Bovi
11. Vishwa Brahmins
At the formal inauguration of the 5th season of Kudla cup (2016) Stanley Fernandes was the chief guest who is a noted leader and senior core committee member of Mangalurean Community. All the teams and their community representatives were present at the grounds to witness the investiture of ‘KUDLA-5’, as the colourful balloons were let loose in the air to depict the high spirits of unity in diversity with the culmination of different Kudla Communtiies under one banner, that is, the favourite Kudla sports tournament. Upon the inauguration, cutting the ribbon between the wickets witnessed a ceremonious start as Stanley swung the bat to hit the ball and marked formal start of the game ‘Cricket’. All the communities representatives shared the dais with the chief guest and event organizers Srikanth, Yuvaraj and Suraj of ‘Kudla Friends Muscat’ at this momentous time.
The matches started with full action witnessing some good knocks, hits and catches by swirling the bat in the air through square cuts and drives, swinging and spinning the ball, diving and rolling down for a catch. The format of the match was 8 overs with power play and other articulates were almost the same as of a T20 Match format, which brought in serious mood of gaming amongst the teams.
The results of Cricket Tournament KUDLA5 – Day 1 - Men’s Category:
1st Match - Oman Billwas Vs Bearys - Toss won by Bearys and elected to field first.
Oman Billawas scored 58 runs. Bearys won the match by 10 wickets.
2nd Match - Vishwabrahmana Vs Bovis - Vishwabrahmana won the toss and elected to bat.
Vishwabrahmana scored 95 runs. Bovi scored only 66 runs. Vishwabrahmana won the match by 29 runs.
3rd Match - Bunts Oman Vs Muscat Mogaveeers - Muscat Mogaveer won the toss and elected to field first.
Bunts Oman scored 70 runs. Muscat Mogaveer won the match by 8 wickets.
4th Match - South Kanara Muslim Brothers Vs Kulal - Toss won by Kulal and elected to bat first.
Kulal scored 55 runs. South Kanara Muslim Brothers won the match by 8 wickets.
5th Match - MCCP Vs Brahmins - Toss won by Brahmins and elected to field first.
MCCP scored 88 runs. While scoring the target Brahmins scored only 65 runs.
MCCP won the match by 23 runs.
The commentators in their flawless flow of commentary, not only kept the spirit and momentum of the game high, but also created a serious high profile tournament aura as felt by the audiences and players present at the venue.
The 2nd leg of Kudla season V will be held on February 15, 2016. Schedule is as follows:
1. MCCP Vs Konkans (quarter final) - 11.45 am.
2. Bearys Vs Muscat Mogaveers (quarter final) - 1.30 pm.
Semi Finals
1. Vishwabrahmana Vs (Winner of 1st quarter final) - 2.30 pm.
2. South Kanara Muslim Brothers Vs (winner of 2nd quarter final) - 3.30 pm.
The spirit filled action confirmed that teams reported for the event had well prepared since months and entered the ground to fight out and lift the champions trophy.
Jeppu Chidananda Naik and M Pallonji Qatar are platinum sponsor for the Kudla Cup – V season.