Thimphu XI Wins the Last Shangri-la Cup
Sunday, July 15th, 2007
The Last Shangrila Cup 2007 final saw Thimphu XI Vs Assam XI as they fight for the Cup, It was the day of bowler as the prevailing weather condition yesterday gave them the much help with ball moving after pitching. The pitch had a good amount of moisture in the early start of the innings that suited the fast bowler. Assam XI Skipper lucky at this time with toss elected to bat first, he opend the inning along with Lutu Raj, Parmeswar the man in form after a century and a half century against the Sarpang XI in the league match couldn’t shine this time again with the Thimphu XI as Dilip Kumar Subba bowled him out for duck, Dilip who has been the peak of the bowler and the Man of the Match with 5 crucial wicket. Hadungwia Brahma was promoted up the order to face the new ball and his entry was welcome by Dilip Kumar Subba when he gave no rooms to play and at other end Tandin Wangchuk has been expensive conceding six runs of his first over.
Lutu Raj and Hadungwia played the new ball defending it and taking single as boundary has been hard to come from the ball of the Thimphu XI opening Bowler, Lutu Raj soon departed after a simple catch by Tandin Wangchuk in the first slip of the Tandin Wanghcuk B bowling, rain interrupted the match for about 30 minutes as the covers was called on by the two umpires. When played resumed. Amar Reaizary then walk in to take the charge on as he hit beautiful cover drive and a huge six of Tandin Wangchuk, his timing has been the hallmark as he danced down the pitch hiting off spinner Tandin Wangchuk two sixes of the same over to take the score to 50 runs, he composed his innings with full flare as he attack on the bowler giving away extras.
The President Dinner was organized yesterday to all the participants’ team and official. The dinner was graced by Sarpang Dzongkhag Dzongda and BTC Deputy Chief from Assam. The Main aim of the dinner was to convey the president message and a gathering for all the teams, official, umpires and the members from Bhutan India Friendship.
Bhutan Cricket Treasure Mr Ugyen Tenzin read out His Excellency Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk Message where Lyonpo is very thankful to the Dzongkhag Officials (Sarpang Dzongkhag) for helping Bhutan Cricket in promoting cricket in Bhutan by organizing such tournaments. He is also thankful for the Assam team who could join the tournament and do well. He regrets that team from Jaipur couldn’t participate due to some problem back home. He also mentioned that this tournament “THE LAST SHANGRILA CUP” will be a yearly tournament and will be encouraging more teams from India and strengthening the Indo-Bhutan Bond.
The all important toss made hard for the Assam XI batsmen as they were given a revenge of the Last match, Thimphu XI skipper Jigme Singye after winning the toss didn’t hesitate to bowl first in over cast and humid weather condition as Thimphu XI strikes early in the overs to take the prize wicket of Parmeswar who was run out by Dilip Kumar Subba after a mix up with his team mate Derhwhat who called for a single run.
Assam XI Crushed Sarpang XI in the on going The Last Shangrila Cup 2007 held in Gelephu, Assam XI are without doubt the favorite for the Cup as they are without a defeat in the last three match played against Sarpang XI and Thimphu XI. Their Batting line up and accurate bowling made hard for both the Home Team Sarpang XI and Thimphu XI, Sarpang XI yet again suffering from the Giants Assam Team in Terms of Cricketing Knowledge are now a game away from being knocked out from the Tournament. The Second round of the Last Shangrila Match played yesterday in the Gelephu Sport Association Ground saw some stunning shots and entertainment from the Batsmen of Assam XI Parmeswar. As the rain has been hitting the Town for whole night and at the official start of the match, rain seems to have carried on, the ground has been wet and the pitch at drier side with covers on. Umpires and the official decided to wait till 11 am in the morning for a good weather condition and favorable for the cricket match. 
The match that the crowd has been expecting for a long time when the last Shangrila Cup was announced that it will be held in the Gelephu District of Sarpang, Assam XI took on Thimphu XI today, The match turned out to be an exciting towards the end as Assam XI were just 13 runs for the victory with two wicket in the hand, spinner operating from the both end and couples of LBW shout crowds just loved it, the home crowd cheering the Thimphu XI Team as they took a wicket of Assam team leaving just a wicket for them to win a contesting match, a huge six and a four by the number 11 batsmen heroji of the sushil sharma bowling brought down the runs to a clse one, a runs off the next two balls leveled the score and a delight Assam XI Dressing room jumped in joy.
Thimphu XI after winning the toss elected to Bat first in the Gloomy weather condition, Thimphu XI started well off in the beginning as Bikash Sharma Luitel attack from the first ball he faced, he hit a four and six in the first over to take the score to 10 runs with sanjeeven Raj Gurung kept silent in the non striker end, he was given no rooms to play as the bowler kept a good line and length.Thimphu XI Batting look promising in the beginning when Bikash was hitting over the boundaries, after his depart for 14 runs, Tashi the regular number three batsmen walked to take on the Quickie Assam openers, he faced his innings with straight bat, hit couple of fours and anchor the innings with Sanjeeven who was out the next ball after facing 10 balls and without bothering the score. 
Sarpang XI suffered Double Blow today as the Thimphu XI Thrashed the home team after the Home Team Skipper Kumar elected to field first after winning the toss against the experienced Thimphu XI which comprises of mostly Under 15 National Squad who were runner’s up in the Last ACC Under 15 Challenge Cup 2006 held in Bangkok, Thailand. The Thimphu XI started well off in the beginning with Bikash Sharma and Sanjeevan Raj Gurung attacking the Sarpang Opening Bowler, both the batsmen ran between the wicket very well thus putting pressure on the fielder and they dispatched the full toss and loose deliveries to boundaries, Bikash Sharma Luital was playing well when a ball which kept low bowled him out for nine. Tashi then along with Sanjeevan put on a 63 runs 1st wickets partnership where they played with the merit of the bowl, there are couples of beautiful cover drive and hook shot which fetch all four runs for the team.
Sarpang XI fielder were kept busy and had shed sweet a lot as they pushed for singles and twos which nearly cost their wickets had there been direct hit from the fielder towards the stump. Tashi played the anchor role by rotating the strike and punishing the loose deliveries delivered by the Sarpang Bowler, extras runs kept adding to the totals as the bowlers kept bowling wides and giving no ball and have not improved from the previous game played against Assam where they conceded 40 runs in extras. Sanjeevan played his opening role with some classic back foot drives and cut. 
The Last Shangrila Cup 2007 Tournament kicked off in style by Gelephu District Dungpa with a straight bat from the 