Punjab Lions crowned Cyprus T20 champions

The final of the 2021 #BAOFINANCIAL T20 Cup was played at Ypsonas on Sunday between the two teams that dominated their qualifying groups – Cyprus Moufflons, who won all their games in the western group, and Punjab Lions, who recovered from two surprise defeats early in the season to sweep all opposition aside in the eastern group. Both teams then comfortably won their semi-finals.

The Lions batted first after winning the toss, and posted a total of 187-9 in their 20 overs. After the top order failed, the innings prospered through the efforts of middle-order batsmen Vikram Verma, Kulwinder Singh, Tejwinder Singh and Sushil Kumar, with Moufflons keeper Zeeshan Sarwar taking four catches behind the stumps.

Zeeshan was also to the fore in Moufflons’ reply, scoring 59 and, along with Mehran Khan and Minhas Khan, taking his team to 140-2. However, six wickets then fell for the addition of only 27 runs, and Moufflons could only reach 173-8, losing by 14 runs.

So Punjab Lions picked up the trophy, proving that they remain the strongest side in Cyprus. Moufflons had the consolation of picking up most of the individual awards – best batsman (Mehran Khan – 477 runs), best bowler (Gurseak Singh – 17 wickets) and best fielder (Zeeshan Sarwar – 14 victims), while the most valuable player award went to Mangala Gunasekara of Sri Lankan CC.

Mangala also won the MVP award for the 2021 #BAOFINANCIAL 40-Over Cup presented by Abbeygate Insurance, a competition in which his team finished as runners-up to Cyprus Moufflons, who again had a clean sweep of the other individual awards – best batsman (Mehran Khan – 280 runs), best bowler (Murtaza Yamin – 14 wickets) and best fielder (Zeeshan Sarwar – 4 victims).

The other competition held this year was the Summer T10, which was won by Cyprus Moufflons ahead of runners-up Limassol Thunder.

So, a great day for Punjab Lions, but also a very successful season for Cyprus Moufflons.

Meanwhile at Happy Valley ground a touring team from Windsor Castle in the UK – the Royal Household CC – enjoyed a successful cricket tour to Cyprus, with wins over the 2Yorks Regiment, and the Nicosia Tigers CC.