Yogi Group win Sharjah Ramadan tournament

The tournament, organised by the Sharjah Cricket Council, was supported by 106.2 HUM FM and CBFS as associate sponsors.

It was the maiden triumph in this tournament for Yogi Group who were richer by Dh10,000 while Lanka Lions had to settle for the Dh6,000 runner-up prize.

Playing with the maturity of a seasoned batsman that he is, Shaiman rattled up exactly 50 off 42 balls with three sixes and two four to help his side ease past a below Lanka Lions’ total of 139 for five with five balls to spare.

A team mate of former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik for Sialkot Stallions which has dominated the domestic T20 competition, Shaiman, 29, is hoping to catch the eye of the UAE selectors after his match-winning knock. “I would love to play for UAE since I’m now eligible (under the four-year residency rule),” said Shaiman who displayed superb temperament to take them within sight of victory.

However, he credited the bowlers for their win. “The bowlers bowled well. We had two big partnerships. 139 was not a big total but we did it properly,” he added.

“It was a good toss to lose. That was the biggest advantage. We bowled very tight. They were from our same group and we won earlier also so we knew what to expect. We were hoping they would bat first,” said Yogi Group skipper Shiva G. Pagarani speaking to Emirates 24|7 after the final.

“Bowlers did a wonderful job. Restricting them to 139 was easily achievable. We batted till end because we wanted it secure and tight,” he added

Former Mumbai Ranji Trophy player Swapnil Patil (33 off 39) and Naeemuddin Aslam (21) maintained the momentum of the Yogi Group innings with some sensible batting in humid conditions. There was minor hiccup when Butt and Aslam departed in quick succession after a 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, this pair virtually sealed victory for Yogi Group with a flurry of boundaries in the 16^th and 17^th overs to dash the hopes of Lanka Lions.

Aruna Bandaranayake bowled a tidy spell for Lanka Lions, taking three wickets for just 17 runs while Kaushaliya Weerarathne, the Sri Lanka ‘A’ squad player, and Oshadha Warnapura picked up one wicket each, but their efforts failed to stop the determined Yogi Group who also entered the final of the second Al Dhaid T20 tournament for the Conmix Cup.

Earlier, Lanka Lions, electing to bat first, had built their innings around Mohamed Aslam (30 off 42) and Eranga Jayasekera (19 off 21). They could have done better, but some incisive bowling by Yogi Group prevented them from taking seizing the early initiative. Kamran Shehzad, Raziq Khan and Ambey were among the wicket-takers.

“We were easily 20 runs short. Our target was 160. We felt outfield was slow because of dew. We could not score as much in first eight overs as our regular opener Gyan got injured and had a makeshift opener who struggled a little bit,” said a disappointed Lanka Lions skipper Malintha Perera who also rued the three “silly” run outs which affected their innings.

Shaiman Butt was declared Man of the Final for his sterling half-century while Mohammed Asif of Seven Seas Strikers walked away with the Best Batsman of the Tournament award having an aggregate of 282 runs. Mohammed Rana Kashif also of Seven Seas Strikers won the Best Bowler award having claimed 11 wickets. Jagrit Anand of Interface Transworld won the Player of the Tournament award.

Yogi Group beat Lanka Lions SC by 4 wickets: Lanka Lions 139 for in 25 overs (Mohamed Aslam 30, Eranga Jayasekera 19; Kamran Shehzad 1-24, Raziq Khan 1-10, Ambey 1-9) Yogi Group 140 for six in 24.1 overs (Shaiman Butt 50, Swapnil Patil 33, Naeemuddin Aslam 21; Aruna Bandaranayake 3-17, Kaushaliya Weerarathne 1-26, Oshadha Warnapura 1-19). Man of the match: Shaiman Butt of Yogi Group. Umpires: Tariq Butt and Iftikhar Ali.

Man of the Final: Shaiman Butt of Yogi Group

Best Batsman: Mohammad Asif of Seven Seas Strikers

Best Bowler: Mohammed Rana Kashif Khan of Seven Seas Strikers

Player of the Tournament: Jagrit Anand of Interface Transworld