Baliapukur crowned champs

Rajshahi's Baliapukur Vidya Niketan became the best among 540 schools when they beat Kashinath Alauddin High School of Moulvibazar by 34 runs in a rain-interrupted final of the Prime Bank Young Tigers National School Cricket Competition at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi yesterday.

It was a joyous moment for the boys from Baliapukur Vidya Niketan who worked hard since January this year to make their dream come true and the most satisfying fact for winning skipper Mohaimenul Haque was that they brought their little known but beloved school to the spotlight.

“Everybody in the country will now know that there is a school in Rajshahi named Baliapukur Vidya Niketan,” said an excited Mohaimenul. The captain gave full credit to the team effort for the success. “Everybody contributed and it's a team effort which helped us to make our dream come true. We had a target and we fulfilled it,” he added.   

This year's competition saw participation of 540 schools and 10,800 players from across the country. Sixty-four district champions featured in the divisional round from which seven divisional champions and champions of Dhaka Metro Zone qualified for the National Round held in Bogra and Rajshahi. In all, 965 matches took place at 70 venues nationwide.

The final match was reduced to a 24-over-a-side affair due to rain. Sent in to bat first, Baliapukur scored 129 runs in 24 overs thanks to Somrat Ali, who hit 53 off 50 balls that contained four fours and three sixes.

In reply, Kashinath Alauddin High School lost wickets at regular intervals before they were bundled out for 95 runs.

Sakibul Islam initiated the early damage by taking two wickets and then Mohammad Foysal took charge to finish the job with a four-wicket haul. Foysal, who also scored an unbeaten 21, captured four for 16 to be named the player of the match.