Future Mattress stamped their supremacy beating Colatta Chocolates by four wickets in the Sharjah Ramadan Cup T20 Cup final at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday night. Sajjad Malook, who struck early to take two wickets, restricted Colatta Chocolates to 152 for 4 in 20 overs. Future Mattress withstood the Colatta Chocolates attempt to pull off a victory through timely knocks from Usman Khan (28), Fayyaz Ahmed (39) and Nasir Faraz (30) to win in 18.3 overs.
Colatta Chocolates won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Shakeer Hydru and Renjith Mani put on a 105 run partnership in 14 overs. This partnership ended when Shakeer Hydru retired out for 41. Renjith Mani and one-drop Uzair Maan took the score to 114 when Uzair Maan got out caught by Rohan Mustafa at mid-wicket off Sajjad Malook for 3. But Junaid Shamsu kept the score moving along with Renjith Mani despite some tight bowling. At the score of 129, Junaid Shamsu became another Sajjad Malook victim when he was clean bowled for 11. These two wickets from Sajjad Malook played a vital role in Colatta Chocolates not going on to make a big score.
Renjit Mani maintained the run flow but fell to a good throw from Nasir Faraz straight to bowler Rohan Mustafa resulting in Mani getting run out for 64. His knock off 49 balls had nine boundaries. Skipper Laxman Sreekumar steered the score past the 150 run mark through an unbeaten 18. V.M. Shah chipped in with an unbeaten three, and in the end Colatta Chocolates posted 152 for 4 in 20 overs.
Future Mattress began their chase through opener Usman Khan and skipper Rohan Mustafa putting on 32 runs in 2.1 overs. Usman Khan got out to Gopakumar Gopalakrishnan caught brilliantly by Junaid Shamsu at long-on. Shamsu, who won the best fielder of the tournament award later, took a tumbling catch to end Usman’s knock of 28 runs. His innings off 14 balls contained five boundaries and a six.
Fayyaz Ahmed joined Rohan Mustafa, who hit two consecutive boundaries off Gopakumar Gopalakrishnan in the third over. The score went past the 50-run mark in the fifth over, but in the sixth over, Akhil Das took the prize wicket of Rohan Mustafa by trapping him leg before. Mustafa , while trying a reverse sweep, missed the delivery and got out for 14.
Nasir Faraz joined Fayyaz Ahmed and kept the scoreboard moving at a brisk pace. The manner in which the pair picked the gaps to swell the total was a treat to watch. Future Mattress reached the 100 run mark in 11.1 overs. Fayyaz Ahmed hit Renjit Mani for a six to deep mid-wicket, but when 44 runs were needed in 45 balls, Fayyaz hit Gopakumar Gopalakrishnan to Shabik at deep mid-wicket. Despite Shabik having to go out of the boundary to maintain his balance, he completed the catch returning to the field.
Usman joined Nasir Faraz and took the score to 122. When 31 runs were needed in the last 35 balls, Nasir Faraz hit Akhil Das to Manpreet Singh at deep mid-wicket for 30. Syed Haider Shah joined Usman, and in the last five overs 30 more runs were needed for the victory.
Krishan Paul struck with fourth ball of the 16th over to have Syed Haider Shah brilliantly caught behind by wicketkeeper Shakeer Hydru for 2. Usman and Umair Ali inched the score towards the target but at the score on 142 when 11 runs were needed off 14 balls, Uzair Maan clean bowled Usman for 17.
Abdul Shakoor walked in and played a scoop shot off Uzair Maan to fine leg boundary. Umair Ali hit Renjit Mani over his head to long-off for another boundary and won the match in 18.3 overs.
Brief scores:
Future Mattress bt Colatta Chocolates by 4 wkts. Colatta Chocolates 152 for 4 in 20 overs (Shakeer Hydru 41, Renjith Mani 64. Sajjad Malook 2 for 26) Future Mattress 153 for 6 in 18.3 overs (Usman Khan 28, Fayyaz Ahmed 39, Nasir Faraz 30, Gopakumar Gopalakrishnan 2 for 36, Akhil Das 2 for 19)
Cup Player of the Final: Sajjad Malook – Future Mattress
Player of the tournament: Renjith Mani – Colatta Chocolates
Best Batter of the tournament: Muhammad Irfan – Seven Districts
Best Bowler of the tournament: Haider – Seven Districts
Best Fielder: Junaid Shamsu – Colatta Chocolates