Mammoths pull off narrow victory against Alubond

Thadani’s innings was thudded with three massive sixes and two fours which propelled Mammoths’ total to 158.

Dubai Mammoths won by four runs. — Supplied photo

Dubai — The Ramadan 25-over cricket tournament for 40 and above could not have asked for a more exciting start to the event as Dubai Mammoths pulled off a nail-biting four-run win over a star-studded Alubond Cool and Cool at the Fairgrounds of the Dubai Men’s College on Sunday night.

The three-team Forty’s tournament is being organised by Dubai Cricket Council.

It was a good toss to win for Alubond who put Mammoths in to bat and in a flash had them staring down the barrel at 49 for 5 with Sunil Raheja and Lucky Abbas returning to the pavilion without opening their accounts.

Alubond’s Ayub Inayat was playing havoc at this stage bagging three of the five wickets but Divendra Taneja and Rajesh Thadani steadied the rocking boat with a composed 41-run partnership for the sixth wicket which turned the tide in Mammoths’ favour.

Taneja scored 34 from 26 balls (1x6, 4x4) but it was Thadani’s knock which helped Mammoths race to a healthy total. He cut loose slamming an unbeaten 59 from only 48 balls that almost took the match away from Alubond.

Thadani’s innings was thudded with three massive sixes and two fours which propelled Mammoths’ total to 158. In between Mohsin Pardesi chipped in with two wickets in the middle.

Alubond’s chase began on the wrong foot with openers Akbar Rana and Mohsin Pardesi falling to Rizwan Hashmi and man of the match Divendra Taneja for ducks.

Rafi-Ullah (23), Mohammad Afzal (38), Ayub Inayat (21) and Tariq Lord (30) kept Aubond within striking distance but Hashmi (3/37), Taneja (3/25) and Indika Batu (2/15) struck wickets at regular intervals.

No. 10 batsman Zulfiqar (13) and No. 11 Wajahat (9) gave Mammoths some nervous moments towards the end with some big hitting. They had the overs in hand but at a crucial juncture Zulfiqar got himself run-out and it was curtains for Alubond.