Kohima Destitute Orphanage Home (C) win first Super Six cricket tournament

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 8 (EMN): Kohima Destitute Orphanage Home (C) emerged as champions of the first Super Six cricket tournament by a three-run win over Silver Backs CC  in the finals played at Rüzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School playground at High School in Kohima on Monday

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Kohima Orphanage Destitute Home put up a total of 45 runs in the first innings with Seyievizo Zaputo-ü and Apa Pohena registering 13 runs each as the top scorers of the side.

During the match’s first session, Silver Backs’ Sobin claimed two wickets while Vishal and Sunjit took a wicket each.

Coming close to the mark while chasing the set target, Silver Backs managed to score 42 runs before losing the hard-fought game with a deficit of three runs.

The top scorers from Silver Backs were Vishal and Sobin who secured 21 runs and 10 runs respectively while the team conceded a wicket each to Vilalie Zaputo-ü, and Samuel Zaputo-ü of Kohima Orphanage Destitute Home during the second innings.

Earlier during the day, Kohima Destitute Orphanage Home started brightly as both Thumbs Up CC and Youngsters CC had to bow out of the competition losing to the winners.

They sailed through the final after beating Thumbs Up by three wickets in the second quarter-final match while the team won over Youngsters with a convincing 28 runs in the first semi-final match respectively.

Meanwhile, Silver Backs defeated United Brothers CC in the second quarter-final match while they entered into the final after edging past Welps CC in the second semi-final match.

Winning the tournament, Kohima Destitute Orphanage Home walked home richer with INR 10,000 as the champions while Silver Backs won INR 6,000 as the runner-up.

In the individual category, Ibumrai of Thumps Up who scored an impressive 101 runs during the competition became the highest run scorer while Sobin of Silver Backs who had six wickets in his tally was declared the highest wicket taker.

 Aton John of Kohima Destitute Orphanage Home (C) was adjudged the best fielder while Pouthuanlung Newmai of Kohima Destitute Orphanage Home (A), the most promising player.

All the four players also pocketed INR 1,000 each.

Sunup Imchen, advisor for Kohima District Veterans Cricket Club, handed over prizes to the winners. 

Speaking to Eastern Mirror post final match, Samuel Zaputo-ü, the winning captain from Kohima Destitute Orphanage Home (C) expressed happiness on the overall performances displayed by his team during the tournament, adding that the players have “improved a lot” while comparing to the past tournaments where they have played. 

He informed that they have been practicing in the playground of Kohima Orphanage Destitute Home before taking part in the first Super Six cricket tournament.

Following the feat, Vilalie Zaputo-ü, the right arm medium bowler of Kohima Orphanage Destitute Home (C) attributed their confidence level and team spirit to be the reason behind their success throughout the competition. “We gave our best. We played better in the final than our quarter-final and semi-final matches,” he shared.

“Game is all about mentality,” said  Zaputo-ü, who conceded the minimum run (three runs with one wicket in two overs) in the final. He added that the team has been “focussed and confident” in all their games. All the bowling, fielding and batting departments “gave our 100 percent to lift the title,” he shared.

He further informed that they are looking forward to competing in another super six cricket competition being organised by United Brothers Kohima which is slotted to be held from March 12 to the 14th.