Captain Vijay Kumar led the way yesterday as the Hsinchu Titans claimed the Taiwan Premier League title at the Yingfeng Cricket Ground in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山), beating PCCT by 27 runs.
The weather was a topic again, but not the rain that played a role in previous matches in the often-delayed tournament.
Kumar, who made 80 not out from 63 deliveries, and teammate Vishwajit Kumar (58 from 43) rescued the Titans from a precarious state at the end of the power play in the T20 match. The visitors were put in to bat and struggled to 26-3 as PCCT bowler Shahzad Khan (2/24) contained the top order before the fielding restrictions were eased after six overs.
Photo courtesy of Umer Saeed
However, Kumar and Tawar each blasted five sixes before Tawar was run out on the final ball of the innings.
“The power play was difficult, but I stuck to my game, and it got easier as the innings went on,” Kumar said. “Very good partnership with Vicky [Tawar].”
The Titans’ 158-4 looked a long way off when PCCT fell to 11-5 in just four overs, but Khan (27), Shuib Meer (38) and Usman Javed (29) put them within striking range of pulling off an unlikely comeback win.
Photo courtesy of Umer Saeed
The potential rally was made a necessity by the Titans’ Nitish Gangwar, who shattered the run chase with five wickets for 17 runs, including the scalps of Khan and Javed.
PCCT opener Asif Tanoli — whose son Muhammad Zaman Tanoli was a key member of Taipei’s Tung-Yuan Little League baseball team who went undefeated on their way to victory representing Taiwan at the Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, late last month — said that a change in the weather might have played a role in the final.
“The wind switched when the Titans began bowling. Also, it was very hot for our bowlers, but cooled off in the second innings,” said Tanoli, who made 4.
“Also, we played bad shots,” he added.
Gangwar was more blunt about his performance with the ball in hand.
“My team needed those wickets, so I got them,” he said as he accepted the award for best bowler of the tournament.
Rain had played a major role in the early stages of the 10-team tournament. The first match was completed early last year, but too many were rained out to finish all of them in one summer.
Former representative to Turkey Yaser Cheng, chairman of the Taipei Grand Mosque Foundation, was the special guest at the closing ceremony.
“Taiwan is a baseball country, but it is amazing to see a cricket event so well done in Taipei,” Cheng said. “We need to see more of it, so keep going.”
The organizers of the tournament said: “We would really want to thank all the 10 teams who participated, ground staff who relentlessly worked to make the ground ready despite unfavorable weather conditions and all the officials and supporters who made this tournament a success.”
In Saturday’s semi-finals, the Titans stormed into the final by outplaying Formosa, winning by eight wickets, while PCCT had only slightly more difficulty overcoming the Taiwan Stars, chasing down their 114 all out with nearly five overs to spare.
The next cricketing event on the calendar is the Teachers’ Day Kids’ Cricket event on Sept. 29 at the Yingfeng Cricket Ground. Details for those wanting to enter a team are online at www.taiwancricket.com under the “kids’ cricket” links.
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