• Mumbai Marines defeated Southern Spartans by 7 wickets in the final of the Big Cricket League 2024.

  • Manan Sharma's unbeaten 89* and a crucial wicket earned him Player of the Match

Twitter reactions: Manan Sharma’s all-round brilliance propels Mumbai Marines to victory in the inaugural BCL final
Mumbai Marines (Image Source: X)

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On Monday at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat, Mumbai Marines made history by becoming the inaugural champions of the Big Cricket League 2024. Led by Irfan Pathan, they defeated Southern Spartans, captained by Suresh Raina, by 7 wickets in a high-scoring final. The victory was largely driven by a scintillating all-round performance from Manan Sharma, who played a crucial role with both bat and ball.

Southern Spartans sets a challenging target

Asked to bat first, Southern Spartans set an imposing target of 211 for the Mumbai Marines. The opening pair of Phil Mustard and Raina got off to a fast start. Mustard’s explosive knock of 78 from 39 balls, which included 10 fours and 4 sixes, laid the foundation for a big total. Raina supported him well with a quickfire 51 from just 26 balls, featuring 9 fours and 1 six. However, the middle order faltered slightly as the Marines’ bowlers fought back.

Shivam Kumar and Manpreet Gony were the standout bowlers for Mumbai Marines, each claiming two wickets in their four-over spells. Manan also chipped in with a crucial wicket, keeping the Spartans’ scoring rate in check. The Marines’ bowlers kept their discipline, especially in the death overs, limiting the Spartans to a total of 210/6 after 20 overs.

Mumbai Marines: The inaugural champions

In response, Mumbai Marines began their chase with purpose. Jesal Karia, the tournament’s best batter, played an aggressive knock at the top, scoring 75 from 39 balls with 13 fours and a six. His partnership with Manan, who finished unbeaten on 89* off 42 balls, was the cornerstone of their successful chase. Manan’s brilliant knock included 7 fours and 6 sixes, sealing the victory for the Marines in just 19.1 overs, as they reached 213/3.

The Southern Spartans’ bowlers were unable to contain the onslaught. Abhishek Sakuja was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 wickets in his 3 overs, while Santosh Yadav managed 1 wicket in his full quota of 4 overs. Despite their best efforts, the Spartans were unable to halt the Mumbai Marines’ charge. For his exceptional all-round contribution, Manan was deservedly named Player of the Match. His performance was a key factor in Mumbai Marines’ historic triumph. Karia, with 404 runs in the tournament, was crowned the best batter, while Malinda Pushpakumara’s 12 wickets earned him the title of best bowler. Mumbai Marines’ victory in the final marked a perfect end to a remarkable tournament.

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About the Author:
SIDDHARTHA SAWLANI
Siddhartha is a Content Strategist at Cricket Times, holding a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His passion for cricket was ignited by India’s triumph in the 2011 World Cup. Alongside his dedication to cricket, Siddhartha is an accomplished state-level table tennis player. With a longstanding ambition to become a sports journalist, he brings both academic expertise and a deep enthusiasm for the sport to his role. His admiration for AB de Villiers underscores his commitment to excellence in cricket journalism. You can write to him at siddhartha@crickettimes.com and follow him on Linkedin.