The first Everest Winter Cup is in the books, and the trophy belongs to Lions Cricket Club — deserved winners of a round-robin that packed a tie, a rain-out and a last-over thriller into one week of cricket.
The decisive match
The cup effectively turned on the round-three meeting between our own Everest Academy XI and the Lions. Batting first, the Academy were bowled out for 14 inside their two overs, Rahul Verma doing the damage with figures of 2 for 2 — the best of the tournament. The chase wobbled but never broke: Lions got home with two wickets in hand, and the two-wicket win plus a superior net run rate ultimately decided the title.
A tie for the ages
Earlier, Lions and District XI had produced the rarest result in the game — scores dead level at 12 after two overs each. Under cup rules both sides took a point, and that single point is what kept District XI ahead of the chasing pack in the final table.
Rain has the last word
The Academy XI's opening fixture against Champions Academy lasted exactly two balls before the skies opened. Under tournament rules the abandonment counted as a no-result, with both teams collecting a point — a reminder that in cricket, as in the mountains, the weather always gets a vote.
Final standings
Lions Cricket Club finished top with 3 points (NRR +0.864), ahead of District XI, Everest Academy XI and Champions Academy. Full points table, scorecards and every player's statistics are on the tournaments page — all recorded live, ball by ball.
Special mention to 13-year-old Reyansh, who bowled a full maiden over in the decider — six dot balls under real pressure. Coaches' player of the tournament.
