Aziz Damani captured their sixth league trophy on Sunday after beating Avengers by 25 runs in a thrilling T20 Men’s final played at the Lugogo Cricket Oval.
Avengers convincingly beat Damani sister club, Aziz Damani Development in the semifinals, but they went into this game as the underdogs.
They however, didn’t let that tag derail them as they produced a display worth of a final. Their bowling attack cleared Damani’s top order (consisting of Chirag Sisodoya 0, Simon Ssesazi 7 and Falak Shah 15) inside power play, but they were unable to find an antidote for Riazat Ali Shah who eventually won his team the game.
Of the 178 runs Damani set, Riazat hit 74 not out! The all-rounder joined the crease at number four in the fourth Over, and he was all the boys in yellow and green needed to secure their sixth consecutive title.
The 25-year-old went on to pick two wickets that included Avenger’s captain Yashashvi Joshi (16) and Panchal Harsh (28) who had steadied Avenger’s innings.
Opener Abhishek Mashru scored 35 runs for Avengers, but his wicket fell too early- in the 9th Over- and it proved an expensive one.
In the end, Damani were able to defend their score as they maintained their status quo.
Riazat bagged himself the MVP award owing to his display in this game. Heading into the final, the fans favourite was placed 5th in the overall player rankings, but by the time the game ended, he had garnered 1091 points which ensured he overtake everyone else in the rankings.
The player ended the campaign as the player with most runs- 240, added to the 6 wickets he managed throughout the season.
