Dubai: UAE's six-hitting specialist Shaiman Anwar was once again at his best in the final of the first Amigos Twenty20 Cricket Cup at the Dubai Sevens. His unbeaten 79, studded with four sixes and six boundaries, helped Yogi Group down Seven Seas by eight wickets to emerge as champions in the tournament.
Speaking to Gulf News, Anwar, who had recently bagged awards for the most entertaining batsman and most sixes in the Kerala Premier League (KPL), said: "Seven Seas total was a challenging one and so I went for my shots. It is indeed very pleasing to win the tournament."
Batting first, Seven Seas set an impressive total of 163 for 7 wickets. Kashif Rana and Hasnain Raza were the main scorers for Seven Seas, with 45 runs and 35 runs respectively.
Four-wicket haul
UAE spinner Shadeep Silva put the brakes on Seven Seas through a fine four-wicket spell.
So powerful was Yogi Group's chase that they reached the target in 18.4 overs, losing just two wickets. Anwar got good support from his teammates Salman Fares, who hit 42 runs, and Swapnil Patil who cracked a timely 26. Veteran left am spinner Freddy Sidhwa took both the Yogi Group's wickets.
Shiva Pagarani, the skipper of the Yogi Group bagged the best bowler of the tournament award.
Man of the match: Shaiman Anwar
Individual awards — Best bowler: Shiva Pagarani of Yogi Group
Best batsman: Clint Berkenshaw of Farooq C.C.
Man of the tournament: Bilal Irshad of Seven Seas Strikers.
