Jammu, Mar 13: Kishtwar Kings defeated Banihal Kites by 32 runs, Jammu Panthers defeated Doda Lions by 18 runs, and Doda Lions edged past Jammu Swords by 7 runs in the YSS-JKSC Cricket Premier League matches played at M A Stadium in Jammu on Friday.
In the first match of the day, Kishtwar Kings, after winning the toss, elected to bat first and posted a competitive 155/7 in 19 overs. The innings was anchored by Faraaz Butt, who smashed an explosive 51 off 25 balls, striking seven fours and three sixes at a strike rate above 200.
He was well supported by Akmal Afzal, who made 33 from 26 balls, while Damil Amin added a useful 27 off 23 deliveries to help push the total past the 150 mark. Late contributions from Waseem Bhat (14 not out) and Sameer Sheikh (6 not out off 2 balls) provided a final flourish.
For Banihal Kites, Khan Ussama was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 23 runs in 4 overs, while Amir Lefty chipped in with two wickets.
Chasing 156, Banihal Kites struggled to build partnerships and were bowled out for 123 in 17.3 overs. Furqaan Khan top-scored with 35 off 25 balls, while Haris Mir contributed 20 and Basit Wani added 19, but the chase never gathered momentum.
Kishtwar Kings’ bowlers maintained tight control throughout the innings. Saqib Majeed delivered the standout spell, taking 3 wickets for just 12 runs in 4 overs, while Burhan Qazi, Shahbaz Malik, and captain Mehmood Ur Rehman claimed two wickets each to seal the victory.
With this convincing win, Kishtwar Kings strengthened their position in the league, thanks to an explosive half-century from Faraaz Butt and a disciplined bowling display led by Saqib Majeed.
In the second match of the day, batting first after winning the toss, Jammu Panthers posted a competitive 199/8 in 20 overs, powered by aggressive middle-order contributions.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Atul set the early momentum with a quick 42 off 25 balls, striking nine boundaries. He was well supported by Vishaavjeet Singh, who added 34 from 23 deliveries with seven fours. The innings gathered further pace in the latter stages as Ahmed Farooq smashed 44 off 24 balls, including four fours and two sixes, while Sami Ullah hammered 44 from just 22 balls with three sixes to push the total close to the 200 mark.
For Doda Lions, Adil Wani and Yawar Khan were the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets each, but the Panthers’ batting depth ensured a challenging target.
In reply, Doda Lions fought hard but ultimately fell short, finishing at 181/8 in their 20 overs. Opener Farhab Shapoo played a brilliant knock of 54 off 36 balls, striking nine fours and a six to anchor the chase. Muteeb Mehraj contributed 32 off 27 balls, while Mehran Ganai chipped in with 19, but regular wickets halted the Lions’ momentum during the middle overs.
The turning point came through an outstanding spell from Deep, who delivered a match-winning performance with the ball. The pacer returned figures of 4 for 19 in his four overs, removing key batsmen and tightening the chase.
Despite a late push from the lower order, Doda Lions could not close the gap, allowing Jammu Panthers to secure a hard-fought 18-run victory.
In the third match of the day, Doda Lions held their nerve to secure a narrow 7-run victory over Jammu Swords.
After winning the toss, Doda Lions opted to bat first and posted a competitive 185/5 in 20 overs, thanks largely to a brilliant innings from captain Aamir Ashraf, who anchored the batting with 86 runs off 56 balls, striking 14 boundaries at an impressive strike rate of 153.57.
Ashraf received useful support from Yawar Khan (21) and Mehran Ganai, who remained unbeaten on 32 off 23 balls. In the final overs, Adil Wani provided a quick boost with a fiery 22 from just 7 balls, including three sixes, helping the Lions finish strongly.
For Jammu Swords, Pranav Gupta and captain Rahul Khatri picked up two wickets each, but the bowlers struggled to contain the Lions’ aggressive batting in the death overs.
Chasing 186 for victory, Jammu Swords lost early wickets, slipping to 21/2 inside three overs. However, Vimarsh Kaw steadied the innings with a classy 76 off 52 balls, hitting eight fours and a six to keep his side in the hunt.
Later, Pranav Gupta produced a late assault with an unbeaten 51 off just 21 deliveries, smashing seven fours and two sixes to bring the Swords close to the target. Despite the late charge, Jammu Swords finished on 178/6 in their 20 overs, falling just short
Among the bowlers for Doda Lions, Adil Wani (2/33) and Amir Wani (2/35) played crucial roles, while Arif Rather delivered an economical spell of 1/14 in four overs, putting pressure on the opposition during the powerplay.
With this hard-fought win, Doda Lions emerged victorious in one of the most exciting matches of the league so far.