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Defending champions Ritz-Carlton ‘A’ retained the Inter-Hotels Charity Cricket Tournament title with a two-wicket win over Regency ‘A’ in a thrilling final at the Ritz-Carlton ground.
The hosts put their rivals in to bat and Regency posted a fighting total of 55 for the loss of four wickets in their allotted six overs. Captain Qamar (9, 1x4), Imran (15, 2x4) and Yasir (19, 2x6, 1x4) were the main scorers.
Excellent fielding by the Ritz-Carlton resulted in three run-outs, while Riaz picked up a wicket conceding eight runs.
The hosts started slowly with captain Mohammed Naeem (16, 1x6), Danish (8, 1x4) and Falak Sher (7, 1x6) all perishing by the fourth over.
With 20 runs required off 12 balls and three wickets remaining, the tournament’s ‘best batsman’ Tharindu lifted the hopes of the hosts and its supporters scoring 14 off five balls, including two sixes to tilt the match in favour of Ritz-Carlton before he was run out.
With nine runs required in the last over Ritz-Carlton ‘A’ snatched the title with a ball remaining.
Qamar returned bowling figures of 2 for 11 while Adnan bagged one wicket for seven runs.
After his team’s victory, skipper Naeem said: “The final is always a pressure game and being hosts adds on to our responsibilities and expectations of the supporters. It was a precious moment and exciting towards the end as we didn’t want to lose the final after winning all group matches.
“Since the opponents were Regency, to whom we lost in the final of the first tournament in 2012, it added to our urge to beat them.
“We were mentally set and I advised my teammates to stick to the basics and not to pressure themselves, and we were successful in executing our game plan.”
Naeem, who was playing with a strapped hand in the semi-final and final, said about his injury: “I was struggling during the semi-final and final with the injury on my right index finger which happened while opening the ‘ball can’ before the first semi-final and ended up with five stitches.
“But the passion of my teammates drove me to play the crucial games.”
Earlier, in the semifinals Regency ‘A’ routed Domain by 50 runs and Ritz-Carlton ‘A’ thrashed Movenpick by 41 runs.
After the prize distribution, a cheque for $8,500 (around BD3,200) was handed to the Alia Centre for Autism, the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa’s official charity partner.
Semi-final results:
Regency ‘A’ 66/4 in 6 overs (Qamar 36 not out, 16 balls, 2x4, 3x6; Rohan 3 wkts for 5 runs) bt Domain 16 all out in 3.3 overs (Qamar 2 for 1) by 50 runs.
Man of the match: Qamar
Ritz-Carlton ‘A’ 68 all out in 6 overs (Tharindu 15, 6 balls, 2x6, Naeem 11, 6 balls, 2x4; Ravi 3 for 3) bt Movenpick 27 all out in 5.3 overs (Nalaka 10, 6 balls, 1x6; Nazar 2 for 9, Tharindu 1 for 3) by 41 runs.
Man of the match: Tharindu
Best Batsman of the Tournament: Tharindu; Best All-Rounder: Qamar; Best Bowler: Falak Sher.
