Sharjah: Unique Strikers enthralled a 1000-strong crowd at JMR Oval ground with an emphatic 8-wicket win over Skinmade Smashers at the final match of the Bhatkal community's biggest BPL T20 cricket tournament on Sunday, Feb 19.

Winning the toss, Unique Strikers opted to field first and restricted Skinmade Smashers at 176 with a fall of 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Unique Strikers' openers Nashit and Faisal blew the ground with their excellent batting performance that guided the team hit the target score of 177 with a fall of 2 wickets in 16.5 overs.

For Unique Strikers, opener Nashit banged 51 off 37 deliveries and unbeaten Faisal Patel smashed blistering 84 runs off 46 balls and was crowned with the Man of the match award. Syed Shazeer and Akhlaq Ahmed contributed 5 and 10 runs respectively helping the team to cross the target score.

For Skinmade Smashers, it was Ismail Khan and Mohammed Ali hammered 41 runs each. Minhaj Tahira and Safwan Shanu scored 30 and 27 runs respectively.

Presentation ceremony:

The winning team, Unique Strikers were awarded a champions trophy along with a cash prize of AED 8,888, while runner-up Skinmade Smashers received a trophy along with a cash prize of AED 6,666. Player of the tournament award was crowned to Ismail Khan of Skinmade Smashers, while Shamoon Shabandari of Rising Stars and Abdul Hameed Gawai of Saalif Chargers were awarded with best bowler and best batsman award respectively.

Present as the chief guest in the ceremony, Amit Bussad, Former Under-14 Karnataka State Cricket Player, said, it was amazing to watch youngsters of Bhatkal playing cricket with utmost professionalism. It's a proud moment for me being a caretaker of cricket for Dharwad zone, with Bhatkal being in Uttara Kannada district comes under Dharwad zone in Karnataka State Cricket Academy, he added.

He urged the cricketers of Bhatkal to come forward and participate in zonal level cricket matches and get selected to play for the state level matches. All it needs is hard work and efficient coaching, he noted. He also praised Bhatkal Sports Academy which is actively promoting cricket in Bhatkal taluk.

On this occasion, BPL chairman Shariar Khateeb delivered vote of thanks and congratulated both the teams for their efforts in reaching the finals. Mr Sufiyan SM and Sameer Momin compered the ceremony. BPL Deputy Commissioner Imran Khateeb were also honoured for their extra ordinary service through the entire journey of the tournament. 

BPL Commissioner Taha Muallim, Vice chairman Yasir Kashimji, Accountant Abdul Sattar Lanka, Treasurer Abdul Mateen DF, and other BPL GC members along with BMJD General Secretary Maulana Shakeeb Shabandari were present in the presentation ceremony.