Media Release
Muscat, Dec 22: Sunshine Cricket Club, a famous Mangalorean cricket club in Muscat hosted MRI softball cricket tournament on the occasion of the club’s 20th anniversary in Oman recently.
Sunshine cricket Club was founded by Gunapal Shetty 20 years ago. From last few years the team is lead by Damodar Shetty from Gracewood LLC. He has been motivating all the youngsters for many years now and Sunshine is one of the top teams in 16 overs matches which are played on every Friday morning throughout Muscat. It was Damodar Shetty’s dream to host a tournament on the 20th anniversary.
A total of 28 teams participated in the three-week long tournament. Sunshine Captain and Manager Damodar Shetty initiated the tournament which was equally supported by all his team members Shukur, Rajesh Shetty, Prasad Shetty, Shabeer, Anand, Wilson, Iqbal, Chokalingam, Latish, Sandesh, Aman and Surendra Amin. The Club wants to give fair chance to all small teams in Muscat, hence there was no advertisement. All the small teams were invited over the phone and the response was immense. Tournament was played on knockout basis with maximum of 8 overs per each innings.
Tournament sponsors were Arabian Glass LLC who had arranged all the Team trophies including small trophies for all 14 individual players. Masood, Managing Director of Arabian Glass LLC was invited for the prize distribution ceremony as chief guest. Sunshine senior member Rajesh Shetty is also a business partner of Arabian Glass LLC.
Rajendra Shetty from Blue Line International LLC sponsored HP mini laptop for Man of the Series Award, LG Mobile-Khimji Ramdas Customer Care sponsored 2 LG Mobile phones. Other sponsors were Al Maya International, Pocari Sweat, Sea Pearls Jewellers and Gracewood LLC.
Tournament match schedule draw was held on November 27 at Indian House Restaurant, Ruwi. Gunapal Shetty, Mohan Shetty and Prasanna were the chief guests on draw day. First round and second round matches were played on 2nd and 9th December at the Ghubra power plant grass groud. All quarter finals, Semi finals, third place and final matches were played on 16th December. Many cricket lovers from Muscat witnessed the semifinals and final matches.
After preliminary rounds, Assarain, QAD, OEC, HCC, Richie X1, Attic Outdoor, Beagle Boys and Golden Toss Muttrah reached quarter finals. In quarter finals HCC won against Beagle boys, Assarain won against Attic, QAD won against Golden Toss and OEC won against Richie X1. In the first Semifinal in low scoring tight match Assarain won by 10 runs. In the second semifinal QAD won comfortably against OEC by 40 runs. In third place close match OEC won against HCC.
Final match was the real beauty of the tourney. Two of the favorite teams Assarain and QAD were in the final. QAD won the toss and elected to bat under good batting conditions. Posted a mammoth total of 105 runs in 8 overs with Rahaman contributing 31 and Firoz 35 respectively. In reply Assarain started attacking right from the first over scoring 17 runs and in the end of third over score board was ticking 48 runs. Eventually in the end Assarain chased the target comfortably. Star performer for Assarain was Ranjith who smashed 74 runs in just 24 balls with 9 maximum sixes which won him man of the match award for final. He was also a Best Batsman of the tourney for scoring 168 runs in 4 matches. Ranjtih also awarded for maximum sixes for hitting total 18 sixes.
Tournament was a big success with various special prices have been awarded. There were prices for senior players who are above 40 to 50 ages and still playing. Club wanted to encourage them hence special prices have been declared for senior category. There were also consolation prices for second best performers and for early exit teams.
There were also beautiful trophies for most disciplined and best dressed team. Ibra Warriors won the most disciplined team award for coming all the way from Ibra which is around 200 km from Muscat and played their games with right spirit and discipline. Golden Toss Muttrah attracted all the organizers and co-teams with their beautiful red color jerseys’ which won them the best dressed team award.
Results:
Champions : Assarain
First Runners-up :QAD (Qassar Al Doha)
Second Runners-up : OEC (Oman Engineering and Contracting LLC)
Most Disciplined Team : Ibra Warriors
Best Dressed (Colorful) Team: Golden Toss Muttrah
Man of the Series: Rahaman of QAD
Best Batsman: Ranjith of Assarain
Best Bowler : Vasu of QAD
Best Keeper : Ali of Assarain
Best Catch : Aslam of Time Travels
First Semifinal Man of the match : Vishwanath of Assarain
Second Semi Final Man of the match: Vasu of QAD
Final Man of the Match: Ranjith of Assarain
Consolation prize for Man of the Series: Khan of OEC
Consolation prize for Best Batsman: Firoz of QAD
Special prices for senior players:
Best senior player: Rao from OHI
Most Enthusiastic Player : Nalin from Time Travles
Most Co-operative Captain: Lijo from Century Cricketers
Best Senior Batsman: Navin from NN Friends.
Consolation prize for Best bowler: Waseem of QAD
Consolation Prize for first round exit: Asfandiyar X1
In a grand prize distribution ceremony Masud from Arabian Glass LLC was the chief guest. Other guests who presented all the awards were Rajendra Shetty from Blueline, Prakash Mathais from Pocari Sweat, Shirkanth Shetty, Mohan Shetty, Yuvaraj from coastal cricketers and Rao from OHI.
Finally tourney was the big success and went as per the plan. Damodar Shetty thanked everybody who has contributed to make this tournament a big success.