Team Spartans 85/4 in 17.3 overs (Vipul Jadvani 31, Anuj Shrimali 29, Aaron Fernandes 2/16) defeated The Cric-Greeks 81 in 20 overs (Anand Bhavsar 25*, Viraj Patel 4/12, 2/13) by 6 wickets.
Keeping in mind, the fact that all the games in the tournament have been low-scoring, 82 was not at all a below par score. Spartans had to wait for seventeen and half overs to lift the SPL Trophy. They started their innings in the way they wouldn't have liked. They were two down and score still not reading double figures. It was the skipper and Shrimali who took the onus of carrying the Spartans to their maiden title. Fernandes bowled well to take 2 wickets but defending a target of mere 82, it was just not enough.
On a tough wicket, it was always going to be an ardous task for the side batting first. The Cric-Geeks were very passive in their approach and that cost them 3 wickets at the outset. The 32-run partnership for the 4th wicket ascended a slight hope in the batting camp. Thereafter, wickets fell in cluster and they were bowled out for 81 at the end of 20 overs. If we talk of Spartans' bowling, Viraj Patel took a four-fer by conceding 12 runs. Jadvani too bowled at typical lengths to pick up couple of wickets.
The much-anticipated final of the Softweb Premier League did not went as per expectations. It was rather a one-sided encounter. Though, it was a low-scoring tournament but the second edition of the SPL was exciting and alluring. There were performances to remember and acknowledge. Players like Mori, Gorvadiya, Jivani, Sanghani have made their name and mark through the series.
That's it from my side, this is Anurag on behalf of whole Cricheroes team, we wish you Merry Christmas and a happy 2020. Good Bye.
