Jamshedpur, July 17: The absence of Team India keeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni might have robbed some glitter of the prize distribution ceremony of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), but the jubilation on the faces of the cricketers more than made up for it.

The ceremony, the first of its kind by the state cricket body, was organised by the state cricket body at the Keenan Stadium this morning.

The award-winning cricketers were presented with a memento and a cash prize of Rs 5,000 each for their performance over the last season.

Dhoni, who made the headlines after his blitzkrieg against Pakistan in Visakhapatnam, was honoured for being the first state player to represent the country. His father Pan Singh accepted a cheque of Rs two lakh on behalf of his illustrious son. Dhoni is currently engaged in the conditioning camp in Bangalore.

Shiv Shankar Rao, the Dhanbad-based medium pacer, received the best bowler of the year award. While Mohit Goyal received the award for the best batsman in the CK Nayudu (under-22) trophy, Sujit Roy, the city-based leg spinner, walked away with the best bowler award. Mohit could not make it to the ceremony and the award was collected on his behalf by one of his colleagues.

Wicket-keeper batsman Subroto Ghosh and left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem won the best batsman and best bowler award, respectively, in the Vinoo Mankad (under-19) Trophy. However, neither of them were present on the occasion and their awards were collected by their colleagues. Their cheque was collected on their behalf by their colleagues.

Abhishek Moitra and Kaushik Raj Singh were handed over the best batsman and best bowler award, respectively, in the Vijay Merchant Trophy, while Nitesh Kumar Singh and Prashant Rahul received the honour for their performances in the Polly Umrigar Trophy.

Bokaro notched the top spot in the senior inter-district tournament while Jamshedpur won the inter-district (under-19) tourney. Ranchi finished first in the under-17 and under-15 categories.

In the institutional league, International Auto romped home victorious. International Auto and East Central Railway (Dhanbad) came out as joint winners of the institutional knock-out tournament.

Students? Cricket Club won the local A-division league of the elite group. The-A division Plate group trophy was won by L Town Cricket Club. GORC emerged champions in the A-division knock-out while Young Boys? CC clinched the B-division league. AR XI took the B-division knock-out title. The A-division school league was won by St Mary?s English School while Kasidih High School emerged champs in the B-division school league.