In a nail-biting final of Kashmir Cup at TRC Ground Srinagar, Dadoo Rangers Kashmir retained their Kashmir Cup title, defeating Valley Fresh CC by 23 runs to claim the 2024 championship. The match saw dramatic twists as the defending champions were initially in trouble but staged a stunning comeback to lift the trophy once again.
Dadoo Rangers’ skipper, Asif Manzoor, won the toss and elected to bat, but his team’s decision seemed to backfire early on. They found themselves struggling at 74 for 7 in just 9.4 overs. It was Mehfuz Khan’s heroics with the bat that turned the game around. Khan smashed a blistering 57, supported by lower-order contributions from Gowhar Leggy (20) and Gulzar Guly (18), helping the team set a competitive target of 176.Umer Lefty provided a quick-fire 48 off just 20 deliveries to bolster the total. Valley Fresh bowlers, led by Syed Sagar with 3 wickets, Dardish Gohni with 2, and Abrar Peer and Rouf Mir with one each, kept the pressure on but couldn’t prevent the fightback.
In response, Valley Fresh CC’s chase started poorly, with opener Irfan Mir falling for a duck. Skipper Suhail Buzmi (34) and Saqib Nazir (29) steadied the innings with a 64-run partnership, but wickets fell at crucial moments. Inform batter Meeran Yousf was dismissed cheaply for just 2 runs, and despite a resilient unbeaten 47 from Musaib Farooq, Valley Fresh fell short, finishing at 152/6 in 20 overs.
For his match-winning knock and a wicket, Mehfuz Khan was named Player of the Match, while Gowhar Leggy, who also contributed with both bat and ball, received the Game Changer Award. Ishtiyaq Rasool was declared Player of the Tournament for his all-round performances, and also received the Best Batter award. Gowhar Leggy claimed the Best Bowler award, and Gulzar Guly was honored as the tournament’s Best Fielder.
The 15-day tournament, organized by Dalgate Sports Club, captivated cricket fans both at the venue and online, with millions tuning in to watch the thrilling finale. The Kashmir Cup 2024 once again showcased the growing passion for cricket in the region, cementing Dadoo Rangers’ status as one of the premier teams in the competition. At the tournament’s closing ceremony, the Former J&K Raji cricketer Syed Parveez Qaisar was the chief guest and he distributed the awards among the players and guests.
