Fattani takes FMB Mpingwe Cricket crown
Fattani Printers have successfully wrestled the FMB Mpingwe Sports Club (MSC) T20 Cricket Tournament crown from holders Anchor Industries following a 23-run victory in the final at MSC in Blantyre on Sunday.
Fattani batted first and got 131 runs all-out as Minhaz Sapa top-scored with 43 runs out of 39 balls to take the man-of-the-match accolade.
Yasin Limdawala added 17 runs in 15 balls in Fattani’s triumph as Mubassir Amiji and Asif Rustam made individual contributions of 15 runs in 13 balls and 13 runs in five balls, respectively.
Rustam, who was named Player-of-the-Tournament with 164 runs seven wickets, was also instrumental in denying Anchor any chance of mounting a successful run-chase as he claimed two wickets.
In reply, Anchor’s all-rounder Ahson Rashid made 33 runs in 36 balls as the team’s captain Karamat Chaudhry slotted in15 runs in 24 balls, but the side seemed not realistically in the mood for a successful title defence as they were dismissed for 108 runs.
“It feels great to win a title against our bigger opponents,” said Fattani’s captain Saeed Limdawala. “We will do our best to hold on to this amazing feeling next year.”
Anchor team manager Asif Gillani said they put up a gallant fight only that luck was not on their side.
“Obviously, this has not been our day. We will rectify our problems so that we come back strong next season. In the mean time, congratulations to Fattani Printers,” he said.
FMB marketing manager Widdey Nsona said they were impressed with the organisation of the 16-team competition and that they will come back with sponsorship next year. However, he urged MSC to increase the number of indigenous teams.
“It has been a very good year. For the first time, the contest included indigenous teams [KU Destroyers and OPCO] and we hope more teams, especially those comprising indigenous Malawians, will be given chance to compete next year,” he said.
MSC sports director Abdul Wahab Jagot said they will do the needful to fulfil the sponsors’ wishes. He also praised the finalists for practising fair-play during the ultimate battle for glory. n
