Puri: The third All-India T10 Tennis Ball Cricket Championship, organised under the auspices of the Tennis Ball Cricket Association of India (TBCAI), was held at the Shree Jagannath Cricket Stadium, Sunday.
The tournament was hosted by the Odisha T10 Tennis Cricket Association in collaboration with the Shree Jagannath Darshan Charitable Trust. Due to rain, the men’s final was delayed and played Monday morning, with Jharkhand emerging as champions while Odisha settled for the runners-up position.
After editions in Lucknow and Goa, the championship’s third instalment in the holy city of Puri has added a new chapter to its national-level journey.
Odisha, finishing runners-up in both the men’s and women’s categories, left behind strong memories. In the first men’s semifinal, Jharkhand defeated AIIB by seven wickets. The second semifinal between Odisha and Uttar Pradesh was disrupted by rain, and Odisha were declared winners.
On Monday, batting first, Odisha post 76 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted eight overs. Chasing a target of 77, Jharkhand overhauled the score in 6.1 overs with only two wickets down.
Jharkhand’s Chhotu Khan was named Player of the Match, while Odisha’s Bishal Jena won Player of the Series.
Odisha’s Kiran Saha was adjudged Best Batter, Muktikant Patra Best Bowler, and Niranjan Pradhan Best Fielder.
TBCAI president Daitapati Bhabani Prasad Dasmohapatra, governing body chairman Nishikant Mishra, executive secretary Santosh Kumar Pradhan and other officials presented trophies and medals to the champion and runners-up teams.
PNN