In a thrilling finale at the Chandra Cricket Ground, Graduate Club emerged victorious to lift the Pt Shiv Gopal Dwivedi Memorial Tournament trophy. The team defeated the host side, Spark Club, by a convincing margin of six wickets on Thursday.
Graduate Club Chases Down Target With Ease
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Spark Club managed to put up a total of 191 runs on the board. Their innings concluded in the 31st over, having faced 30.4 overs. Key contributions came from Pawan Mishra (59), Deepak Yadav (48), and Harsh Rajput (50). However, the Graduate Club bowlers kept the scoring in check, with Yuvraj Yadav delivering a standout performance, claiming an impressive 5 wickets for 45 runs.
In response, Graduate Club approached the chase with confidence. They successfully reached the target, scoring 193 runs for the loss of only 4 wickets. The chase was anchored by a magnificent innings from Bilal Firoz, who smashed 91 runs. He received solid support from Shubham Yadav, who scored 52 runs. Their partnership paved the way for a comfortable victory.
Awards and Recognition
The chief guest for the prize distribution ceremony was Awadh Behari Lal, who handed over the trophies and accolades to the winners. For his exceptional all-round performance, Yuvraj Yadav was adjudged the Man of the Match. The prestigious Player of the Tournament title was awarded to Bilal Firoz for his consistent and match-winning contributions throughout the event.
Concurrent Action in the KDMA League
While the memorial tournament concluded, the KDMA League also witnessed exciting matches across different grounds in Kanpur on the same day. YMCC and Kanpur Sporting Union both secured victories, earning full points from their respective encounters.
At the Kanpur South Ground, YMCC defeated Kherapati Club by 4 wickets. Kherapati Club had set a target of 184 runs, but YMCC chased it down, finishing at 188 for 6. Key performers included Tushar Pal, who took 3 wickets for 8 runs and scored 44 runs.
In another match held at the PAC Ground, Kanpur Sporting Union mirrored the result, outplaying Riders Club by an identical margin of 4 wickets. Chasing Riders Club's total of 186, Kanpur Sporting Union reached 189 for 6, thanks to notable knocks from Harshit Gautam (48) and an unbeaten partnership between Shivam Shukla (47*) and Satyam Singh (43*).
Looking Ahead
The successful conclusion of the Pt Shiv Gopal Dwivedi Memorial Tournament and the ongoing KDMA League matches highlight the vibrant local cricket scene in Kanpur. These tournaments serve as crucial platforms for nurturing young talent and promoting competitive sports in the city. The performances of players like Yuvraj Yadav and Bilal Firoz will undoubtedly be noted as they showcase their skills on the local circuit.
