Nagpur: Team IDCPE emerged as champions, defeating Sports Buds in a nail-biting final of the MBYC Cup – Batukbhai Queen’s Cricket Challenge which concluded with great fanfare on November 17 after three days of thrilling cricket action. The event, held from November 15 to 17, saw 16 teams competing fiercely for the coveted title. The premier all-women box cricket tournament was played on the verdant grounds of Mahdibagh Colony in North Nagpur.
Batting first in the final encounter, Sports Buds scored 120 in six overs while IDCPE achieved the target with just one ball to spare and won the match by four wickets. The losing semi-finalists were Googly Girls and Lady Lawyers. The teams were divided into four groups, with a total of 24 league matches played over the first two days. The top teams from each group advanced to the semi-finals, which, along with the final, were held on November 17.
Winning team IDCPE got Rs 51,000 and glittering MBYC Cup. The runners-up, Sports Buds, were awarded Rs 21,000. Sarika Meshram (Sports Buds) was named Player of the Tournament with a tally of 191 runs, five wickets and outstanding fielding. She won vouchers worth Rs 12,000. Other individual prize winners were: Best Batter – Archana Mahajan (Team Yodha), Best Bowler – Sunita Baraik (Team IDCPE) and Team with Most Runs – Black Mamba.
MLA Nitin Raut, ex-MLA Dr Milind Mane, Madhura Gadkari and Sunita Wadhawan attended the event.
A number of women achievers from Nagpur were felicitated for their accomplishments. They were: Ankita Guha – (Cricketer, umpire), Dr Sharda Naidu (football), Kanak Jaiswal (shooting), Madhura Gadkari (social service), Dr Rashmi Bhawatkar (power lifting), Bharti Fulmali (cricketer), Surbhi Dhomne (singing) and Sunita Wadhawan (yoga).
The three days also saw vibrant dance performances by children of Mahdibagh, an impressive skipping performance by children from the Nagpur Rope Skipping Association, and a yoga demonstration by Sunita Wadhawan. The event featured a playzone for kids and food stalls making it a fun event for the whole family.
Moin Malak, international golfer and president of Mahdibagh Youth Club said after the tournament, “The MBYC Cup – Batukbhai Queen’s Cricket Challenge was a celebration of talent, sportsmanship, and the spirit of cricket. Congratulations to all the teams and players for their outstanding performances. We look forward to more exciting cricketing events in the future.”