Future Mattress emerges supreme in 29th Bukhatir T20 League, stopping Seven Districts in the final for their third title triumph from seven Sharjah Cricket tournaments this season

By K.R. Nayar

Future Mattress once again displayed their supremacy in Sharjah's tournaments, emerging as the champions of the 29th Bukhatir T20 League at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday night. This win marked Future Mattress's third title triumph out of the seven Sharjah Cricket tournaments held this season. In a final that lasted from 9.40 pm to 1.15 am, Future Mattress secured a seven-wicket victory over Seven Districts.

Future Mattress - champions of the 29th Bukhatir T20 League 

Restricting Seven Districts to 156 for 7 in 20 overs, Future Mattress swiftly chased down the target in 16.1 overs, primarily thanks to opener Sandeep Singh's explosive knock of 68 runs off just 30 balls, which included six boundaries and six sixes. Twelve teams clashed for the title in this tournament, with 38 matches resulting in 10,500 runs, 800 boundaries, and 400 sixes.

Seven Districts - runners up of the 29th Bukhatir T20 League 

In the battle for third place, Collaze Bake House clinched a thrilling three-run victory over CSS Group, thanks to Touqeer Riyasat's exceptional bowling.

Future Mattress skipper Umair Ali receives the winners trophy from Khalaf Bukhatir and Nasir Akram  

The prize distribution ceremony was attended by Khalaf Bukhatir, CEO Sharjah Cricket, Nasir Akram, former Secretary General of Emirates Cricket Board and Executive Council Member of Sharjah Cricket, Mazhar Khan General Manager Sharjah Cricket, Khalid Shah, Business Development Manager Sharjah Cricket, match referee Tehseen Javed and yours sincerely.

Seven Districts skipper Haider Ali receives the runners up trophy from Khalaf Bukhatir and Nasir Akram  

The title clash and Sandeep Singh’s blistering knock

Winning the toss, Future Mattress elected to field. Seven Districts suffered an early setback as their consistent star batsman, Raees Ahmad, was dismissed by Akif Raja for a duck at a score of 5. One-down batsman Muhammad Saghir Khan fell to Mati Khan for 4 when the score was 13. Muhammad Kashif pushed the score to 37 but became another victim of Akif Raja, departing for 16. Farman Ali, the next batsman, also had a brief stay at the crease, getting bowled by Umair Ali for 4.

Future Mattress's Sandeep Singh receives the Player of the Match award from Khalid Shah

Atta Ur Rahim contributed 24 runs to push the score to 66 but was bowled by Muhammad Azhar. Almas Ayub and Abdul Ghaffar fought hard to rescue their team from trouble. When Seven Districts were two runs short of the 100-run mark, Almas Ayub fell to Uzair Khan for 34.

CSS Group's Zohaib receives the Player of the Tournament award from Nasir Akram 

Abdul Ghaffar played some exquisite shots and, along with Nabeel Arshad, took the score to 119 before Nabeel was dismissed by Akif Raja for 9. Ghaffar remained unbeaten on 42 off 26 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. Wahab Hassan finished on 9 not out, and Seven Districts posted 156 for 7 in 20 overs.

Seven Districts' Raees Ahmad receives the Best Batter award from Mazhar Khan 

In pursuit of the target, Future Mattress lost their hard-hitting opener Alishan Sharafu for 2 to Zeeshan Naseer. However, opener Sandeep Singh unleashed his attacking strokes, dominating the bowlers from the start. Dawood Ejaz provided valuable support.

Seven Districts Zeeshan Naseer receives the best bowler award from yours sincerely 

When the total was four runs short of the 100-run mark in 8.3 overs, Sandeep Singh was caught by Wahab Hassan off a well-judged catch by Raees Ahmad. Sandeep's knock of 68, which put Future Mattress on the path to victory, came off just 30 balls and included six boundaries and six sixes.

Dawood Ejaz and Yasir Kaleem took the score to 121 in 12.4 overs when Ejaz was stumped by wicketkeeper Muhammad Kashif off Wahab Hassan for 36. The consistent Yasir Kaleem then guided Future Mattress to the target with an unbeaten 33, supported by Syed Haider Shah (11 not out). Future Mattress clinched the final in 16.1 overs.

Brief scores:
Future Mattress bt Seven Districts by 7 wkts.  Seven Districts 156 for 7 in 20 overs (Atta Ur Rahim 24, Almas Ayub 34, Abdul Ghaffar 42n.o, Akif Raja 3 for 23) Future Mattres 158 for 3 in 16.1 overs (Sandeep Singh 68, Dawood Ejaz 36, Yasir Kaleem 33n.o,  Wahab Hassan 2 for  30)|
Player of the final: Sandeep Singh

Player of the tournament: Zohaib (CSS Group)

Best Batter: Raees (Seven Districts)

Best Bowler: Zeeshan (Seven Districts)

Collaze Bake House wins third place in a nail-biting thriller

Collaze Bake House finished third in the 29th Bukhatir T20 League with a nail-biting three-run victory over CSS Group in a clash held a few hours before the start of the grand final of the tournament. The star of the match was Touqeer Riyasat, who took three wickets and bowled a brilliant last over.

Collaze Bake House won the toss and elected to bat. Their openers, Qamar Awan and Shakeer Hydru, could only add 16 runs before Shakeer Hydru was dismissed by Farzeen Ahmed for 2. Qamar Awan also got out at a score of 33 when Farzeen Ahmed had him caught behind by wicketkeeper Abhinand Maladath for 17. Vishnu Sukumaran and Sapandeep Singh pushed the score to 72 before Vishnu Sukumaran was dismissed by Ranjith Haridas for 19.

Sapandeep Singh and Touqeer Riyasat steered the total past the 100-run mark. At a score of 101, Sapandeep Singh was clean bowled by the accurate Nipun Babu for 38. At the same score, Touqeer Riyasat was dismissed by Zohaib for 9. One run later, Zohaib also picked up the valuable wicket of Junaid Shamsu for a duck. Nikhil Srinivasan played well, scoring 21 runs and taking the score to 133 before getting run out. Hardik Pai (12n.o) and Harry Bharwal's unbeaten 23 off just 10 balls, including two sixes and a boundary, gave Collaze Bake House a total of 161 for 7 in 20 overs.

Chasing the challenging target, CSS Group lost their star batsman Zohaib, caught behind by wicketkeeper Shakeer Hydru off Touqeer Riyasat for 19. One-drop Abhinand Maladath and consistent opener Abhiram Hrithwik added 54 runs for the second wicket. Harry Bharwal dismissed Abhinand for 30. Fazal Oasis and Abhiram steered the total past the 100-run mark. At a score of 122, Fazal Oasis was caught behind by wicketkeeper Shakeer Hydru off Touqeer Riyasat for 21.

Wickets began to fall quickly, with Vishnuraj clean bowled by Mohammad Taimoor for 3 at a score of 131. Four runs later, Abhiram Hrithwik, who cracked a brilliant 51 off 42 balls with two boundaries and two sixes, was caught behind by wicketkeeper Shakeer Hydru off Junaid Shamsu. Four more runs after that, Vimalnadh also fell clean bowled by Junaid Shamsu for 4. Ranjith Haridas pushed the score closer to the target but was run out on the first ball of the last over for 3. Farzeen Ahmed was also clean bowled by Touqeer Riyasat for a duck on the third ball of the last over. Touqeer Riyasat gave away just five runs in the last over and ensured his team an exciting three-run victory, restricting CSS Group to 158 for 8 in 20 overs.

Brief scores:
Collaze Bake House bt CSS Group by 3 runs.  Collaze Bake House 161 for 7 in 20 overs (Sapandeep Singh 38, Nikhil Srinivasan 21, Harry Bharwal 23n.o, Farzeen Ahmed 2 for 12, Zohaib 2 for 24) CSS Group 158 for 8 in 20 overs (Abhiram Hrithwik 51, Abhinand Maladath 30, Fazal Oasis 21, Touqeer Riyasat 3 for 26, Junaid Shamsu 2 for 30)
Player of the Match: Touqeer Riyasat