Dubai: Vinay Tolani carried on the experience of having played with India’s star cricketers like Ambati Rayudu and Pragyan Ojha to emerge as the match-winner for Shindagha Mammoths in the final of the Dubai Cricket Council’s League of Mammoths played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium last week.
Shindagha registered an emphatic 63-run win over Zabeel Mammoths, riding on Tolani’s all-round show. Tolani top-scored with 58 to help Shindagha post a challenging 179 in 24.3 overs. He then struck twice as an able foil for pacer Abid Chaudhury, who wrecked Zabeel with a spell of 4 for 24. Zabeel could muster only 143 in 22.1 overs despite Jawed Siddique’s 55 and Kapil Gandhi’s 25.
Speaking to Gulf News, Tolani, after receiving the Player of Final and Best Bowler awards, said: “I have been playing cricket from the age of 12 and had represented Hyderabad Under-16, 19 and 22 and played alongside Rayudu and Ojha. I am 31 and happy that I am able to play the game despite coming to Dubai, thanks to the Dubai Cricket Council. I work as an internal auditor with Al Shirawi Group. I have carried my cricket experience from India to Dubai and for me playing weekend cricket is a stress buster.”
Tolani’s decision to use cricket as stress buster has resulted in many opponent team’s batting being blustered as he took 13 wickets from nine matches with his accurate off-spin. For him the awards were special as he got to receive them from former India all-rounder Robin Singh, who was the chief guest for the final, along with Amin Farooq, Secretary of the Dubai Cricket Council.
Zabeel won the toss and put Shindagha in to bat. Ranjeet Chavan struck two vital blows to send back Naeem Ahmad and Nikunj Dasqui in the very first over. Sheldon D’Cruz and Javed Siddiqui removed Mustafa Nalwala (4) and Noor Bashar (0) to have Shindagha tottering at 10 for 4. Zabeel skipper Lucky Abbas (37) and Tolani put on 69 to rescue Shindagha.
