Dubai. Shiva Pagarani and Naveen Punjabi helped Dubai Mammoths score a 19-run win over Red Knights Cricket Club in the Dubai Cricket Council’s Saturday Silly Sloggers tournament played at The Sevens ground in Dubai.
Opting to bat on winning the toss, Dubai Mammoths lost quick wickets but AK Satish and Devrajan Srinivasan joined hands to repair the damage. Satish was the aggressor striking a six and three fours during his 32 from 20 balls while Devrajan chipped in with 17 runs.
But once they departed there was another mini collapse until Pagarani played one of his finest innings to prop up his team’s score. Batting at No. 7 Shiva hit two sixes and three fours but was unlucky to miss out on his half century after being run out for 48. Dheeraj Srinivasan propelled the total to 177 with 19 runs.
Red Knights stuttered in their chase but for Karan Tekwani who hit 52 runs off 45 balls with a six and four boundaries. Faheem Kakroo chipped in with 47 from 41 balls but once Punjabi grabbed his first wicket he then just broke the back of Red Knights to restrict them to 158 for 8 and finish with the man of the match award with figures of 4 for 28.
Dubai Mammoth is on the top of the table and will take on Dubai Rhinos in the finals of Saturday Silly Sloggers Two on the April 15 at the Sevens.
Brief scores:
Dubai Mammoths beat Red Knights CC by 19 runs. Dubai Mammoths 177 for 8 in 25 overs (Shiva Pagarani 48, AK Satish 32, Dheeraj Srinivasan 19 n.o.; Darshan Guru 2 for 28, Vijendra Rana 2 for 32, Faheem Kakroo 2 for 27) Red Knights 158 for 8 in 25 overs (Karan Tekwani 52, Faheem Kakroo 47; Naveen Punjabi 4 for 28, Devrajan Srinivasan 2 for 27). Man of the match: Naveen Punjabi.
