10th of September – is a day to remember for Swedish cricket; it had all – competitiveness, character, class, and joy. Here are three takeaways.
Göteborg’s top-three and their big game player
One of the main reasons behind Göteborg City’s success this year has been their top-three; they have scored 76 per cent of the runs this year. Ajay Mundra has been the talk of the town, scoring 420 runs in 9 innings in his first season in Sweden, at an average of 52.50 while striking at 177.
Alongside him, the evergreen Abuzar and allrounder Mahibul Islam followed their footsteps and scored at a strike rate close to 150. Mahibul Islam was also the leading wicket-taker (14) with an economy of 6.50, considering the overs he has bowled during the season.
But, the man in form, Ajay Mundra, took the game away from the opposition with his knock of 90(54) in the semis and 141(62) in the final. His own words after winning the title: “I thrive in pressure games, and there was some sledging as well by them (referring to Malmö Kings)”.
“The outfield was also good, so I could play my natural game, finding the gaps and playing grounded shots. Once they changed the field, I gave back to the opponents’ sledging by playing the shots to the gaps they weren’t expecting”, he said.
Malik Zafar – Sweden’s own Chinaman
He is the leading wicket-taker for SIKIF in Superettan this year with his 14 wickets. In the semis against Göteborg City, he showed his class. Göteborg was going at over 9 at the 12-over mark, but then he stepped into the game.
Göteborg was looking for 180+, but Zafar alone managed to succumb to their middle-order for just 9 runs in 17 deliveries and restricted them to 148. His numbers were 28 for 5 after four overs, making it into his first five-wicket-haul in T20 cricket.
A chase of 207
Cricket is a team game, and Malmö Kings showed this to perfection when they chased down the target of 206 against Pakistanska CF in the semis of Superettan.
With 25 runs to defend in the last over, Pakistanska CF felt they have almost secured their spot in the finals, but Shahid Malik has other plans. He smashed Sharjeel Shadaqat for 25 runs in his last over, the same Sharjeel who scored 52 off 19 in the first innings.
Although Malmö Kings could not finish at the top, they truly defined the odds when they scored 80 runs in the death against Pakistanska.
New faces in Allsvenskan next year will be Göteborg City, finalist of Allsvenskan final in 2020 alongside Pakistanska Cricket Förening, SIKIF and Malmö Kings.
Photograph: Rejin Balachandran
