Dubai:
The final of the Pro Cricket League 2024 showcased the dominance of the Ghaziabad Bhawani Tigers, who secured the championship by defeating the Sahgal Delhi Demons by 6 wickets in a match that highlighted their all-around prowess.
Winning the toss, the Bhawani Tigers opted to field first, a decision that paid dividends early on. The Demons struggled to find their footing, collapsing to 31/4 within the powerplay. Shahbaz Nadeem was the catalyst for the Tigers’ success, striking early and finishing with remarkable figures of 3 wickets for just 14 runs in 4 overs.
As the innings progressed, Robin Bist and Shivam Sharma attempted to steady the ship. Bist contributed a quick 39 off 29 balls, while Sharma provided late resistance with an unbeaten 48 off 35 deliveries. However, the Demons could only muster 148/7 in their 20 overs, leaving them with a challenging total.
In response, the Bhawani Tigers raced out of the blocks, demonstrating their intent to chase down the target swiftly. Openers Vikas Singh and captain Hitesh Sharma set the tone with a brisk 39-run partnership off just 22 balls. Hitesh dazzled with a quickfire 40 from 16 balls, featuring 6 fours and 2 sixes.
However, it was Peter Trego who stole the show, scoring an unbeaten 59 off 32 balls, which included 7 boundaries and 2 sixes. His steadying presence ensured the Tigers chased down the target comfortably, finishing at 151/4 with 21 balls to spare.
Faizan Alam of the Faridabad Sledgehammers Knights concluded the season as the leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets.