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What a finale, what a tournament! And we're off to catch our breath after that breathtaking final. It's been a sheer pleasure bringing the coverage of the same to you here on Sportskeeda and we can't thank you enough for joining us. Do stay tuned to this platform for further cricketing news and action from around the globe in the coming days. For the moment though, this is the duo of Mohul Bhowmick and Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. See you around soon and wishing you a happy Sunday tomorrow - good night and take care!
And now, the moment that Gozo Zalmi were waiting for - the players collect their winners' medals and hold the trophy aloft. Glory for Gozo Zalmi and they soak it all in! These celebrations will go long and hard into the night alright!
Priyan Pushparajan of the Royal Strikers is declared the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament!
Time for the presentation of what has been a long and fulfilling tournament. The Southern Crusaders come up to receive their medals. They've had their moments in this tournament and have done wonderfully well to get to the final. Maybe next time's the charm but they can be proud of how they've played.
Match Summary: Gozo Zalmi beat Southern Crusaders by 6 runs to win the ECS Malta 2023 title.
Wow! Oh what a cracker we've witnessed! Such a fitting finale for a cracking tournament and in the end, it's Gozo Zalmi who will bask in glory after what has been a splendid display on the field with the ball in hand. They had a modest score of 74 to play with but as we said, those were runs on the board in a big final which always count.
And they made it count in style! Basil George was dismissed early despite a first-ball six on his part and even as the Crusaders got off to a flyer, Zalmi fought hard to keep things as tight as they possibly could. The Crusaders tapped the strike around and ran the singles well to stay just above the eight-ball. But Zalmi, despite a few comical errors on the park, didn't lose hope.
Bilal Khan bowled with heart and fire and a ripping yorker that castled Ryan Bastiansz really set the tone for Zalmi's revival. One after another, they chipped away at the wickets thereafter as the asking rate mounted, even as Mithila Avishka looked in fine touch in the middle. Every bowler who was called upon to do a job for Zalmi delivered though, and they made life complicated for the Crusaders.
The 9th over is where it really tilted Zalmi's way with Majid Javed, bowling his first over of the contest, conceding a mere 5 runs while accounting for Avishka's wicket. There was no looking back thereafter for Zalmi, with Glen Tavilla and Talib Shamraiz holding onto two high-pressure catches in the last over to seal the deal for Zalmi, sparking celebrations within their camp. That was quite a stunning defense alright! And what an occasion to put your best foot forward as well!
Gozo Zalmi reign supreme! Absolute scenes at the Marsa Sports Club! They have broken out of jail to defend a total which none of us thought was easy but they have defied the odds in some style. What a finale!
10
overs
68/7score
1
4
1
W
1
W
runs
Zeshan Yousaf*
12(9)
Adeel Latheef
1(1)
Sawab Afridi
2/7
9.6 Sawab Afridi to Zeeshan Yousaf, OUT! GOZO ZALMI WIN THIS TOURNAMENT! AN ABSOLUTE CRACKER OF A CONTEST- THE CRUSADERS FALL SHORT BY 6 RUNS! Low fulltoss on off and middle. Yousaf goes for the swing to the on side and times the ball straight to the hands of the fielder at deep square leg for a simple catch! The Crusaders will be heartbroken- they were so close yet so far to winning this game, and with it the tournament! However, it was not to be. Gozo Zalmi are its deserving winners! Zeeshan Yousaf c Talib Shamraiz b Sawab Afridi 12 (9b, 1x4, 0x6)
One ball. Six runs to tie the game and take it to the Golden Ball. This. Is. It...
9.5 Sawab Afridi to Adeel Latheef, fullish outside off, moves away. Latheef swings at it and gets a leading edge towards cover. A single taken. Off to the final ball!
8 needed off 2...
Adeel Latheef, RHB, comes to the crease
Glen Tavilla! That is such an important catch under pressure! He could have made a hash of it given how long it was in the air but he has managed to hold his nerve. Surely, Gozo Zalmi can't mess this up now?
9.4 Sawab Afridi to Ishantha Kariyawasam, CAUGHT! ANOTHER TWIST! At a length outside off. Kariyawasam tries to slog it away to the on side but does not time the ball too well. It goes high up in the air and is pouched quite comfortably by the fielder stationed at deep midwicket! The Zalmi are surely on top of the game now! The Crusaders need eight runs. Ishantha Kariyawasam c Glen Tavilla b Sawab Afridi 3 (4b, 0x4, 0x6)
9.3 Sawab Afridi to Zeeshan Yousaf, at a length outside off, rises well. Yousaf taps it towards midwicket and picks up a single.
Just what the Crusaders needed! 9 required off 4...
9.2 Sawab Afridi to Zeeshan Yousaf, FOUR! At a length outside off. Yousaf manages to read the length early and swings it away. The ball pierces the gap between deep midwicket and deep square leg for a boundary!
9.1 Sawab Afridi to Ishantha Kariyawasam, at a length outside off, moves away. Kariyawasam smacks it towards cover and picks up a run.
Sawab Afridi to bowl the final over of the tournament.
How has it come down to this for the Crusaders? And how about that for a brilliant over from Majid Javed! It was just his first as well for the game and he might have just sent down the game-clincher. Southern Crusaders require 14 runs off the final over to win the ECS Malta 2023 title!
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Marsa Sports Club, Malta
Zeshan Yousaf
*
Sawab Afridi
Video
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