Dubai: Jumeirah Mammoths emerged as the champions of the fourth edition of the League of Mammoths, organised by Dubai Cricket Council, defeating Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Mammoths through a nail-biting one wicket thriller.
The final drama at the Sevens ground saw two batsmen hitting fifties, a sensational batting collapse and spectacular rearguard action. When Jumeirah won with only five balls to spare, they had recorded their second title triumph in this tournament after finishing runners-up in the first edition and losing out in the league stage in the third edition.
NAS won the toss and decided to bat but everything went wrong from the start as Deepak Patel and Bobby Suri pegged them back with wickets at regular intervals.
By the 12th over, NAS were struggling at 55 for six. Abhay Chavan and Abid Choudhary rose to the challenge and put on a 79-run partnership. Abhay’s run-a-ball 66 contained four fours while Abid hit a brisk 50 from just 34 balls. Abhay who went on to bag the best batsman of the tournament award struck five fours and two towering sixes, helping them post a total of 165.
NAS fought back and also reduced Jumeirah to 56 for six before Shajil Balan, a veteran of many battles and Man of the Match Sujit Salian stepped forward to lift the team out of trouble. Balan hit 31 runs from 26 balls, while Salian carried the winners to target with support from the player of the tournament Sheridan Hadfield. The duo put on 60 runs but it was Sheridan’s 33 from just 17 balls which turned the match in Jumeirah’s favour.
