Bogor wins Ultra Milk junior cricket event

Bogor capped a well deserved victory over Jakarta in the final of the first Ultra Milk Under-15 National cricket championship on Wednesday.

At the Ceylon Cricket Ground in Cibubur, East Jakarta, Bogor won the toss and chose Jakarta to bat. Jakarta lost early wickets and set a modest target of 100 for Bogor. Bogor reached the target with ease in 11 overs, losing only 2 wickets.

Sixteen regional teams competed in the tournament, where teams were divided into four groups of four teams. Each game was played according to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Super 8 format; with 8 players competing in a 15-over match.

Jakarta advanced to the final after defeating Bali in the semifinals on Tuesday, while Bogor clinched its final spot with a 7-wicket victory over Kupang.

Despite failing to reach the grand final, Kupang can return home with pride after their player, Rojario Maxi Koda, was named best bowler at the tournament. I Kadek Gumantika, from the Bali team, was awarded best batsman, while Christian Toda from the Kupang side was named the player of the tournament.

Rosihab Arsyad, the secretary-general of the National Sports Council *KONI* and Surendran Menon, the sales and marketing advisor of the tournament's sponsor, PT Ultra Jaya, presented the awards.

The tournament rounded off the year-old junior cricket development program, which has introduced cricket in schools from Aceh to Papua.

The program has earned an award from the world cricket governing body, the ICC, for the best junior development initiative in the world.

Over 500 schools in 15 provinces participated in the program that taught cricket to over 20,000 school kids aged from 12 to 15 years. The event coincides with the ICC's centenary celebration, which promotes the theme: "Catch the Spirit". - JP