Irfan Pathan-led Mumbai Mariners lifted the inaugural Big Cricket League trophy after beating Suresh Raina-led Southern Spartans in the high-scoring final of the Big Cricket League 2024 last Sunday. After winning the trophy, the Mariners leader recreated Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s T20 World Cup-winning celebration moment.

After Mariners captain Irfan Pathan chose to field first, Spartans scored 210/6 in 20 overs with the help of the opener Phil Mustard and skipper Suresh Raina’s half-centuries. Mariners chased down the target in 19.1 overs after losing three wickets. While Jesal Karia and Manan Sharma set up the tone in the chasing after both the openers’ cheap dismissals, skipper Irfan Pathan successfully guided the team to victory with the Player of the Match Manan Sharma. 

Southern Spartans set up a strong total

After the opener Solomon Mire was dismissed for seven runs, English cricketer Mustard and former Indian star Suresh Raina had an incredible partnership of 119 runs from 53 balls for the second wicket. While Raina was dismissed for 51 off 26 balls with nine fours and one six, Mustard scored 78 off 39 balls with 10 fours and four sixes before Manan Sharma caught and bowled him. 

Also, Faiz Fazal scored 30 off 19 balls with the help of three fours and one six, and Abhimanyu Mithun scored 25 off 22 balls with two sixes. While Manan Sharma ended with the bowling figures of 4-0-50-1, Shivam Kumar (2/37) and Manpreet Gony (2/40) picked up two wickets each. 

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Mumbai Mariners successfully chased the target

In reply, openers Mihir Agarwal (2) and Sri Lankan Malinda Pushpakumara (13) were dismissed cheaply, but Jesal Karia and Manan Sharma controlled the game with a 93-run partnership for the third wicket. After Karia was dismissed for 75 off 39 balls (13 fours and one six), Manan and Irfan Pathan maintained the game in their favour with another 85-run partnership for the unbroken fourth wicket. While Manan scored 89 not out off 42 balls with seven fours and six sixes, skipper Irfan scored 27 not out off 18 balls with two fours and one six. 

During the title-winning moment, Irfan Pathan recreated Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s walking celebration during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 title-winning moment. 

.@ImRo45 Taking A Page Out Of My Playbook! WOOOOO! pic.twitter.com/gRMrPermGb

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) June 30, 2024

Irfan Pathan’s Mumbai Mariners crowned the first-ever Big Cricket League champions! 🏆🔥

Watch the #BCL Final, highlights on #SonyLIV 📲 pic.twitter.com/FCcPQHuPff

— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) December 23, 2024