PANAJI
In a thrilling final of the BVCI All India Veterans 2026 tournament, West Zone defeated North Zone by one wicket to claim the championship. The match, which went down to the last ball, kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
In the contest held at the Grand Arena Cricket Ground in Hyderabad, North Zone won the toss and opted to bat first. Despite an aggressive start, their batting collapsed against the disciplined bowling of the West Zone. Captain Ajit Chandila (11), Vijay Singh (7), and Vimal Sharma (11) were dismissed early, putting North Zone under pressure.
In the middle order, Amardeep Sonkar played a blistering knock of 34 runs off 16 balls to steady the innings. He was supported by Ahmed Farooq (28) and Abhilash Kaushik (23). However, regular wickets prevented North Zone from building momentum, and they were restricted to 149 runs in 18.4 overs. For the West Zone, Anup Fulper was the standout bowler, claiming 4 wickets for 26 runs in 3.4 overs. He was well supported by Goa’s left-arm spinner Prasad Patil (2 wickets) and Basappa Madar (2 wickets).
Chasing a target of 150, the West Zone had a disappointing start. Khalid Zaman (13) and Aasif Khan (10) were dismissed early, and Anup Fulper (7) also fell cheaply, leaving the team struggling at 58 for 5.
At this stage, Goa’s Sahil Dhuri, leading the side, played a composed innings of 38 runs off 37 balls to stabilize the chase. However, it was Shalabh Shrivastava who turned the game around. He scored an unbeaten 56 off 32 balls, hitting 5 fours and 3 sixes, and guided West Zone towards victory.
The match intensified in the final overs, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Despite the pressure, Shrivastava held his nerve and took the team closer to the target. Eventually, West Zone reached 153 for 9 in 20 overs, sealing a dramatic one-wicket win.
For the North Zone, Devender Kumar (2 wickets), Ajit Chandila (2 wickets), and Ahmed Farooq (2 wickets) bowled well but could not secure a win.
With a thrilling finish, fighting spirit from both teams, and composure under pressure, the final proved to be a memorable contest. Shalabh Shrivastava played a crucial role in West Zone’s victory, while Anup Fulper’s bowling laid the foundation for the win.
