Leading the current stand for the highest run getter and player of the tournament table point, Druk Gladiator’s Sajibul Mai powers his team to a 5 wicket over the Paro Bluemoon Club to take them to the second position of the on-going Bhutan T20 Smash 2022 at Jigmethang cricket ground, Thimphu. Paro Bluemoon opener Tulsi Biswa and Sanjit Biswa started steadily scoring 39 runs opening partnership from six overs before Tulsi fell to Deepak Verma caught at slip by Sajibul Mai. Wicket-keeper batsman Kishen was sent back two overs later in a mix-up that caused him a run-out. New batsman Gem Tshering was stumped the first ball in the ninth over. Paro Bluemoon remaining batsman struggled as Sajibul Mai and Sahidul Islam kept troubling them ultimately completing the first innings at 137 for the loss of nine wickets from 20 overs. Druk Gladiators opener Vijay Sagar played the anchoring job for the team as he went on to score 47 of 47 balls before he was caught out by Pema Wangchuk of Sonam Tobgay’s bowling in the 17th over. Paro Bluemoon managed to get the wickets of Deepak Verma, Saha Alom and Aryan Verma but Sajibul Mai (44 of 24 balls) punished the drop catch errors from the Paro fielders as they went on to win the match by five wickets. Sajibul Mai was declared the Player of the match.
SKD All Stars down Radaps to take top spot
SKD All Stars oust Wangdue Radaps by 49 runs today at Jigmethang cricket ground, Thimphu to lead the points table of the ongoing Bhutan T20 Smash. Wangdue Radap’s were to blame themselves for the loss having restricted SKD All Stars earlier to chasable 137 all out in 20 overs. Wangdue Radap started brilliantly getting rid of SKD’s skipper Jigme N Dorji in the second over by a beauty of delivery from Kencho Chophel. Jigme’s opening partner Sanjeevan Rai didn’t last long as he was sent off by a beauty of a delivery from Wangdue’s pace sensation Pema Loday in the fifth over. It only took a delivery as new man Tshering Rigden was bowled out the very next ball by Pema Loday. The pace duo of Pema Loday and Kencho Chophel kept troubling the SKD batsmen with consistent line and length during which Kencho Chophel went on to get Tandin Wangdi caught at slips by Pema Dorji in the sixth over. Khendrup Jangchub (24 of 11 balls) and Tandin Penjor (22 of 27 balls) played a sensible innings adding 38 for the fifth wicket before Tandin Penjor was run out credit to a direct hit on the stumps from Ram Kumar Rai. SKD’S Jigme Wangchuk (33 of 29 balls) and Yowon Pradhan (29 of 22 balls) started to rebuilt the innings with some sensible batting playing mostly on the ground and getting the occasional boundary as the two went on to add 55 runs for the seventh wicket partnership before Wangdue’s quick Deki Phuntsho caused havoc through the SKD remaining batsmen and picking up the first hattrick of the tournament in Jigme Wangchuk, Yowon Pradhan and Bishal Ghalley in the seventh over. Pema Loday bowled Tashi Chophel in the 19th over to give Radaps 138 runs to chase. The second innings was all about SKD All Star as the Wangdue Radaps struggled to find any answers to SKD’s young pace attack. Radap’s skipper Ram Chandra Mongar was send back in the first over, caught by Sanjeevan in the slips off Tashi Chophel. Next batsman Tsheltrim Yoezer joined the skipper back in pavilion as he was bowled out with brilliant delivery from Tashi Chophel. Sangay Tenzin (19 runs) and Deki Phuntsho (13 runs) were the only notable run getters as rest of the batsman failed to score in double digits. Wangdue Radap’s were wrapped up for 88 as SKD All star win by 49 and take the top spot on the points table. SKD All Star pace sensation Tashi Chophel was named the player of the match.
True Warriors win a thriller
True Warriors registered their first win of the Bhutan T20 Smash 2022 edging pass Dantak by a narrow 3 runs and march forward in the tournament. Having lost their opening match to Druk Gladiators in the previously week True Warriors had to win to keep their hopes alive for the top two spot. It wasn’t the best start that True Warriors would have wanted losing Soenam Jamtsho to the third delivery of the first over to Vinay Singh. Sanjay Pradhan and Kinga Loday started to build the innings putting up 41 runs between them before Sanjay was bowled by Bhagat Singh. Kinga Loday looked good for his 41 of 32 balls before Pawan Mehta bowled him in the 12 over as the total score stood at 98 runs. Dantak’s speedster Vinay Singh came back for his second spell and got the better of Kelzang Nima who returned to the pavilion without troubling the score much. True Warrior’s Manish Giri on the other hand started to open up and play some blistering shots supported by Tarun Kumar from the other side. Manish Giri went on to score his first half century (61 of 31 balls) as True Warriors set a massive 188 runs target. Dantak’s Vinay Singh ended with best figure of 4 for 24 from his 4 overs. Dantak opening batsman Pawan Mehta looked in some mood as he started to hit some aggressive shots early on. Dantak lost their first wicket Pawan Kumar in the fourth over at the score of 36. It didn’t take long for Warrior’s as they picked up Bhagat Singh in the next over. Warrior’s medium pacer Pema Dorji got the better of Pawan Mehta bowling him out for 44 of 24 balls in the ninth over. Pema was the pick of the bowlers for the Warrior’s with figure of 1 for 14 from 4 overs. At this juncture of the game, Warriors were all over Dantak, however, William Rana and Vinay Singh had other plans as the two started to look comfortable and punish the Warrior’s fielding errors adding 67 runs fifth wicket partnership. Rana went on to score his maiden half century (66 of 51 balls) The game stood at 13 runs required of the last over. Warrior’s speedster Yueyong Phuntsho started nervously bowling a wide first ball before trapping Vinay Singh leg before wicket the next ball. Next bastman Rakesh Dhiman managed to squeeze a single from the next ball bringing Rana on strike. Set batsman Rana flicked the ball towards deep square to take Dantak to a one hit distance before Yueyong Phuntsho managed to run-out Rakesh Dhiman the next delivery that caused Rana to the non-striker end leaving the new man on strike. Dantak required five of the last ball which Yueyong managed to ball for a dot ball run-out giving True Warrior’s their first win. Manish Giri was declared the Player of the Match for his blistering batting performance.
ACC Women’s T20 Championship, Malaysia, 2022
The Bhutan senior women’s cricket team are in Malaysia to participate in the ACC Women’s T20 Championship 2022. The tournament commences from June 17 and the finals will be played on June 25, 2022. The 10 teams have been divided into two groups of five teams each. Each team meet once against the other four teams in the group and the top two teams from each group after the single round-robin group stage will qualify for the semi-finals. The two finalists will be granted passage to the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, where they will join India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand. The ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup is scheduled to take place in Bangladesh at a date that is to be confirmed. The 14 member squad lead by Dechen Wangmo will take on Nepal in their first match tomorrow at the YSD UKM Oval.
Malaysia! Here We Come
The U-19 national women’s team will leave for Malaysia tomorrow to take part in the U19 World Cup Qualifiers Asia. Apart from Bhutan the tournament will feature Thailand, Hong Kong, Nepal, Qatar and host Malaysia. The team will be lead by Ngawang Choden. The President of Bhutan Cricket, Thinley Wangchuk Dorji met the players today and conveyed his best wishes and some words of wisdom.
Bhutan Cricket 11th Annual General Meeting
The 11th annual general meeting (AGM) of Bhutan Cricket was held at Zhingkham Resort, Punakha on 28th May, 2022.The CEO, Board member representative Mr. Tshering Tashi, district coaches, district coordinators and other employees of the head office made the attendance. In the opening statement, CEO Damber Gurung began by congratulating the rest of the employees for their hard work and for the progress cricket has been making over the years.Various issues pertaining to the development of cricket in the country was thrashed out in the meeting.
Collaboration between Bhutan Cricket and Bhutan Shooting Federation
Bhutan Cricket and Bhutan Shooting Federation (BSF) signed a ‘one of a kind’ memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC) conference hall, Thimphu today. The MoU signing is being endorsed by the BOC. The MoU will allow the two sports federations to work together whereby complimenting each other in creating platform for both federations to grow together. The signing was initiated in the presence of the Secretary General of BOC, Sonam Karma Tshering, President of Bhutan Cricket Thinley Wangchuk Dorji, President of BSF, Colonel Jambay and representatives from respective federations. The main motive behind the MoU is to collaborate and jointly develop the Centre of Excellence at Rama land, Thimphu for the development of both the sports. Speaking during the event, Colonel Jambay Dorji said that the signing of the particular MoU will help both the sports federations in many ways. “It will benefit both the sports and in other ways help youth engagement and thereby in producing productive citizens.” According to the President of Bhutan Cricket the signing of the MoU marks as one of the most important one as it is also first of a kind collaboration between two sport bodies. He said, “Huge part of this fruitful event goes to the support bestowed from the President of BOC, HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.” Thinley Wangchuk Dorji assured support of all kind for the success of the project. “This is a well-thought project and exciting times are ahead of us and with continued support from BOC, we will set this project as an example and showcase great partnership,” he added. “This is great initiative and collaboration between the two sports body,” said SG of BOC, Sonam Karma Tshering. He said that such collaboration is what BOC wants to see and support. “Such collaboration will only set good trend and example of working together.” “It will benefit both federations and projects like this are a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
Impressive all the way
It has been nothing short than a superb display of cricket by the 27-year old Bhutanese cricketer Anju Gurung at the inaugural FairBreak Global Invitational tournament which just ended in Dubai. Bhutan senior women’s vice-captain Anju Gurung was the only player selected from Bhutan for the tournament and she left quite an impression throughout the two-week long tournament even so by making it to the team of the tournament. Anju Gurung was picked by the management of team Falcons and straight away made it to the playing 11 thereafter featured in all the matches of the tournament. Anju’s impressive run in the tournament ended with a overall economy of 7.16 from 7 matches had best figure of 2 for 26. The Australian coach of the Falcons, Joanne Broadbent was also left with full admiration for the Bhutanese left arm pacer. Speaking to the tournament press Joanne Broadbent said, “Anju has been bowling so well for us through the tournament.” Captain Suzie Bates also didn’t shy away from showering praises for the Bhutanese speedster at the post-match presentation after the finals. “To see Anju bowl the way she did the whole tournament and to play against some of the big names in world cricket and getting that confidence up was one of the highlights of the tournament’s impressive” The President of Bhutan Cricket, Thinley Wangchuk Dorji was all praise for Bhutan’s latest cricket sensation. President Thinley Wangchuk Dorji went on to thank the FairBreak Global for giving Anju Gurung the golden opportunity to participate in the historic maiden tournament. Speaking to the in-house media, he said, “This tournament presented Anju a massive platform to play cricket with the very best in the world. It was certainly a revelation for Anju playing, training and learning amongst the cricketing greats. Anju’s performance in the tournament was nothing short of outstanding.” “This exposure to international cricket at the highest level will no doubt have a huge impact on her both as cricketer and as a person moving forward. It may also present a window of opportunity for other Bhutanese cricketers in the future,” he added. “The tournament viewed by millions internationally through 11 broadcasters also catapulted Bhutan and Bhutan Cricket (an associate member country) onto the cricketing world. Bhutan Cricket would like to thank Anju Gurung for being an excellent ambassador for Bhutan with her stellar performances both on and off the field.” Anju Gurung continued to perform in every match in the tournament, however, her top contribution came during the semi-finals against team Spirits when she took two crucial opening wickets that of Scottish international Sarah Bryce and Thailand’s Natthankan Chantham and giving away only 26 runs from her 4 overs which proved to be the match winning moment. Anju Gurung’s other top performances came in the 12th match of the tournament when Falcons played the Sapphires. Bowling against the likes of Sapphires international top batswoman like Elyse Villani, Grace Harris and Babette de Leede. Anju got the best of all giving away only 15 runs from 4 overs. During the 14th match of the tournament against the tournament winner team Tornadoes. The Falcons fell short losing by seven wickets, however, Anju ended wicket-less but giving away only 22 runs from her 4 overs. Anju Gurung presented a souvenir to captain Suzie Bates One of the best experiences according to Anju was to bowl against Spirits and world’s number five batswoman also the number world number one all-rounder Sophie Devine from New Zealand. Anju said, “I knew how big of a player Sophie is and to bowl against her and to keep her away from scoring runs of my ball in itself was a big thing for me.” “I will treasure the moment of sharing the same dressing room as Suzie Bates, Danni Wyatt, Marizanne Kapp and ChamariAthapathathu,” she said. “These guys are world class players and I consider myself lucky to be sharing the same dressing room and got to learn a lot from them. The Falcons captain Suzie Bates is currently the world number seven T20 batswoman and Chamari Athapaththu the 8th world best all-rounder. In action against the Warriors Anju Gurung will be back to Bhutan and join her fellow national team mates to prepare themselves for the upcoming ACC women T20 championship which will be held from June 15, 2022 in Malaysia. The CEO of Bhutan Cricket, Damber Gurug also showered his appreciation for the left armer. Damber Gurung said, “Her performances at the FairBreak was exceptional and I am sure that this experience will help her and Bhutan cricket in general in moving ahead.” “Through the course of Anju playing at the tournament our other national players will also understand the standard of game and players at that level, he said. “Our other potential national players will also now look into getting entry and play in FairBreak and other international tournaments hereafter.” The next edition of the FairBreak Invitational tournament will be back to the actual host nation Hong Kong in March next year.
Gearing up for ACC T20 Championship
Gearing up for ACC T20 ChampionshipThe Bhutan senior women cricketers are back in the nets to prepare for the ACC T20 Championship to be held in Malaysia from mid of June, 2022.The selected team list will be released soon. Following is the tournament group table
President visit to GICG
Bhutan Cricket President Thinley Wangchuk Dorji met the coaches and members of the senior men’s team at the GICG. The senior team is currently in Gelephu for a month training.