Sharma the star as Atlantic wins

By VINODE MAMCHAN

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) player Rajesh Sharma was the star of the show as he led the Atlantic Region to the USA Nationals/Maq T10 crown with a finals victory over the South East Region.

Off-spinner Sharma was excellent as he grabbed three wickets for nine runs to restrict the favorites South East to 115/6 off his 10 overs. This was still a mountain to climb and Atlantic thanks to Honi Gori’s 44 was able to get the win at 116/2 with two balls to spare.

Earlier it was Gori who got the biggest cheer when he sent back the batsman of the tournament Chandrapaul Hemraj for 16. Hemraj dominated the tournament with his fearsome batting and was up to his tricks again hitting two sixes and a four in his 16 before Gori removed him. He ended the tournament hitting 25 sixes and scored the most amount of runs 235.

After his dismissal Atlantic would have hoped for a small target to chase but Abdullah Shah had other ideas. He and Sanjay Stanley added 40 runs for the third wicket, before Shah left for 51 off 26 balls with five sixes and two fours. Stanley followed for 20 off 13 balls.

When Atlantic responded Gori and Naseer Khan clouted 55 off just 4.4 overs to set the tone. Khan made 27 runs off 15 balls with two sixes and two fours. Gori continued to plunder the bowling and when he left with the score at 89 in over number eight, the victory was assured. His 44 took up 21 balls and he smashed five sixes and a four.

Sharma ended the tournament with the most wickets – eight.

SER – 115/6 (10)

Atlantic – 116/2 (9.4)