Dubai: Inspired by tips from Pakistan alllrounder Shahid Afridi, Fly Emirates' leg spinner Arshad Ali bowled his team to a stunning victory over Sussex in the final of the inaugural Emirates Airlines Twenty20 Cup at the 7he Sevens grounds on Saturday.
Despite Fly Emirates being restricted to 85 runs, Ali took three wickets for just seven runs from his four overs to bowl out Sussex for just 71 runs.
Fly Emirates overcame all odds including a knee strain which kept their star player Afridi out of the match, to shock Sussex by 14 runs.
"Afridi guided me on bowling straighter ones and it helped a lot," said Ali, who took three wickets in the first three overs giving away just one run to destroy Sussex.
"It was a great experience to play with such a great player like Afridi, who also bowls leg-spin. I am all the more happy at having bagged the man of the match award," added Ali.
"This is the second time I have bagged the man of the match award against an English county team. Last year I hit 109 runs and took two wickets against Essex in the Arch Trophy in Sharjah," he said. Fly Emirates had started off badly in this tournament, losing their first two matches to Surrey and Sussex. They made it to the final by virtue of their better run rate and win over Cape Cobra.
Setting the tempo
Electing to bat in the final, Fly Emirates got off to a disastrous start losing openers Iqbal Mohammad and Amjad Javed for ducks. Arshad Ali and Khurram Khan put on an invaluable 47 runs for the fifth wicket before Ali was trapped leg before for 17. Khan top scored with 24.
Fly Emirates opening bowler Amjad Javed set the tempo by taking two quick wickets before Arshad destroyed the middle order. Skipper Nigel Fernandes too chipped in with two wickets.
Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice-Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group, who presented the trophy, said: "We are delighted, that through our sponsorship, cricket fans in the UAE were able to watch some superb teams in action and none more so than Fly Emirates XI who proved worthy champions of a superb tournament."
Fernandes, after receiving the trophy and celebrating his team's victory over professional teams, said: "I am absolutely delighted, I have no words and I'm just saying ‘wow', ‘great', I don't know what is coming into my mind."
Fernandes, who juggles cricket with his job as an Airport Services Supervisor also said: "It has been a fantastic two days, the facilities are world-class and this is now going to be our home ground. This event has been the best I have seen in terms of organisation. It really has been professional."
Sussex captain Michael Yardy, despite his team's defeat in the final said: "Overall we've had four good games. It's a new event that has been fantastically organised. I think what the organisers are trying to do out here is great"
Yardy also said that it was a good build up for the coming county season. "We're definitely all ready to go in a few weeks time, for the county season," he said.
Scores
Fly Emirates bt Sussex by 14 runs.
Fly Emirates 85 in 20 overs
(Khurram Khan 24, Arshad Ali 17, Christopher Liddle 3 for 15, Chad Keegan 2 for 3)
Sussex 71 in 18.2 overs
(Amjad Javed 2 for 14, Arshad Ali 3 for 7, Nigel Fernandes 2 for 4).
