Dubai: Shiva Pagarani produced a deadly six-wicket spell to enable Old Hawks lift the Dubai Cricket Council’s (DCC) Pink Ball Forty’s League at the 7evens cricket ground.
Playing in his 33rd year in the UAE’s domestic cricket, he not only captained the Old Hawks team but also inspired his team made up of some of the finest players of yesteryears which includes UAE’s world cup captain Mohammad Tauqir.
Pagarani spun a web around GM Cricket Academy taking six wickets for 30 runs to help Old Hawks win the final by 66 runs.
Batting first, Old Hawks posted an impressive 211 for five in 25 overs through former Karnataka state player Prashant Braggs’s 83 runs and Prajakat Chauhan’s 71 runs. GM Academy were bowled out for 145 in 25 overs.
Speaking to Gulf News, Pagarani, who is also a top DCC official and an off — break bowler, said: “I am happy that even in my 33rd year in domestic cricket I could produce a six-wicket spell. From schools cricket here where I played for Indian High School, Dubai, it has been a long cricket journey. This is my 12th five-wicket spell in domestic cricket.”
Pagarani’s best spell was in 2012 while playing for the Yogi Group team when he took seven wickets for 27 against Interface in the Blenheim Champions Trophy A division tournament.
It is a special feeling for Pagarani who began when cricket was played with only red ball. “I feel nice as I have produced five wicket hauls with the red, white and pink balls and feel happy that there is still cricket left in me,” he said.
GMC won the toss but elected to field only to see Old Hawk’s Chauhan and Braggs crack half centuries.
Chauhan and Braggs put on a 129-run partnership. Braggs’ 83 with dozen fours and a six came off 48 balls while Prajakat hit 71 from 67 balls with six boundaries before retiring hurt. Former Tamil Nadu player Syed Maqsood hit 14 off 12 balls.
Chasing the score, GMC got off to a good start through openers Rajesh Menon (39) and Abdul Rehman (21). Mohammad Shafiq chipped in with 28 runs before Pagarani wrecked the batting line backed by Vijay Anantharaman with two wickets after former Goa player Ambey Parwatkar and Tauqir removed the top two batsmen.
Brief scores (final):
Old Hawks bt GM Cricket Academy by 66 runs. Old Hawks 211 for 5 in 25 overs (Prashant Braggs 83, Prajakat Chauhan 71 retd hurt; Tanveer Raja 2 for 29) GM Cricket Academy 145 in 25 overs (Rajesh Menon 39, Mohammad Shafiq 25, Abdul Rehman 21; Shiva Pagarani 6 for 30, Vijay Anantharaman 2 for 9). Man of the match: Shiva Pagarani.
Individual awards: Best batsman: Prashanth Braggs (4 matches, 175 runs), Best bowler: Mohammad Tauqir (4 matches 10 wickets) Player of the tournament: Vinan Nair of Dubai Mammoths (3 matches, 113 runs and 7 wickets).
