Roshnee Cricket Club was recently crowned champions of the SPL SWT Sikander Bhorat League after defeating Bakerton Youngsters by four wickets in the final at the Springs Old Boys Sports Ground.

Batting first, Bakerton were bowled out for 159 runs. Roshnee chased down the target, scoring 163/6 in 18.5 overs to secure the championship title. Captain Imran Hafeji credited the victory to a collective team effort and belief.

Reflecting on the decision to bowl first, Hafeji explained that the team aimed to restrict Bakerton to around 150 runs, which they believed would be a competitive total to chase.

“We won the toss and decided to bowl. We needed to restrict them. We had a total in mind of around 150, which we thought would be a good score to chase on that wicket,” he said.

However, Bakerton started aggressively and put Roshnee under pressure. They reached 90/1 after eight overs and scored about 130 runs for the loss of just two or three wickets after 13 overs, putting them on course for a total over 200.

Hafeji praised his bowlers for turning the momentum around at a crucial stage of the innings.

“We needed to take some quick wickets at the crucial time, which we did. Our bowlers restricted them to 159, which was a phenomenal effort because, at one stage, they were looking to get 200-plus with the way they were going,” he said.

He singled out Ahmed Imran, Zuber Saley and Faiz Jogiat for their outstanding bowling performances, which played a crucial role in restricting Bakerton to 159 runs.

In the chase, Ahmed Imran scored a valuable 26 off 18 balls, while Mustufa Khalifa contributed 35 off 26 balls to keep Roshnee in contention.

However, the pressure intensified when Roshnee lost its sixth wicket, with another 60 runs required from the final six overs.

Salman Patel stepped up with a match-winning innings, supported by Zuber Saley. Patel smashed 46 off 28 balls, while Saley added 15 off 11. Patel was named Man of the Match as the pair combined to guide Roshnee across the finish line.

“When we were six down, we needed 60 off the last six overs with four wickets in hand. Patel came in and played a blinder, with Saley giving him a good hand. Together, they built that partnership and took us over the line,” Hafeji said.

He emphasised that the team’s success throughout the tournament came from different players contributing at different stages, rather than relying on individual performances.

“It’s a great all-round team performance, and we were glad that we were on the winning side,” he added.

Reflecting on the team’s achievement, Hafeji said the players were proud to have won a highly competitive tournament.

“We are quite proud of what we achieved. It was a strong tournament, and there were many competitive teams. We believed in ourselves and our players. We wanted to go out and enjoy the game.

“Winning and losing is part and parcel of the game, but if you enjoy the game and play the correct way, good results will follow,” he said.

Hafeji acknowledged that leading a relatively young squad came with its own challenges, but said unity and a shared vision helped bring the team together.

“It was just about getting everyone aligned on the same goals. It was important that we backed each other as a team,” he said.

He also expressed pride in captaining a group of players he described as selfless and committed to the team’s success.

“This is a very proud moment for me as captain, leading this fantastic group of players. They are selfless cricketers. Throughout the tournament, we had different individuals performing at different stages, but team performance wins you tournaments,” he said.

Looking ahead to the next season, Hafeji believes the victory has reinforced the importance of self-belief, resilience and teamwork.

“The biggest lesson we take is that regardless of how strong the team you’re facing is, if you believe in your abilities, nothing is impossible. We will come back stronger, and we are ready for the next season,” he said.