Khyber Downtown Champions League: Parvez Rasool in action

SRINAGAR — Fans, players, and officials had to wait a long time for the second game to start after the first was called off because of inclement weather and a wet outfield. The way the game panned out, the wait was worth it in the end.

J&K premier cricketer Parvez Rasool in action leading his side Elegant Strikers Rajouri Kadal, but it wasn’t him or his side that ended with victory.

New entrants to the Khyber Downtown Champions League, HK Stars Sonwar, fashioned a last-ball victory after their premier bowler Rafiq Baba had a spin web around Strikers batsmen including Parvez to limit them to 93 for the loss of nine wickets in the mandatory 15 overs.

HK Stars huffed and puffed to secure the victory in their maiden DCL game on the last ball by one wicket to bring an end to an eventful day.

Needing three runs to win off the last over, Owais Shah struck twice to shift the balance in the Strikers’ favour, but their last man held his nerve to score the required one run off the final ball to get his side over the line, prompting wild celebrations in the dugout and on the field.

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The chase of 94 was halted thanks to Owais and Parvez Rasool, who took three and two wickets respectively, but Tariq Habib and Abid Ahmad played nice little innings of 18 and 14 respectively to steady the chase that ended dramatically.

Earlier, on a slow Kashmir University deck, Rafiq Baba showed yet again why he is so difficult to pick, coming with many a variation to bamboozle the star-studded Strikers’ batting lineup.

Thanks to Owais Shah and Manish Dogra, who scored 27 and 14 respectively, Strikers were 70 for 4 in 9 overs, but Rafiq’s introduction squandered the advantage with the offie scalping 4 for 14 in his three-over spell. Rafiq walked away with the man of the match award.

Earlier, wet outfield and inclement weather meant the first fixture of the day between Mirza Gladiators and Adlife Stars was washed out, much to the disappointment of the home fans who had come in large numbers to watch the game.