All-rounder Ahmad helps Atlas secure semifinal slot

Abu Dhabi: A brilliant all-round display by Fayyaz Ahmad that included six wickets for 16 runs helped Atlas Telecom score a 39-run win over Dubai's Seven Seas.

The win saw Atlas through to the semifinals of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council's Fortune Ramadan Cup Twenty20 tournament.

Fayyaz first shone with the bat as he blasted an unbeaten 41 off just 16 balls. The fast-paced innings saw him hit four sixes and two fours.

Earlier Ebrahim Khan had made 47 with eight boundaries and a six.

But it was Fayyaz's knock that helped Atlas score 53 runs in the last five overs and set Seven Seas a target of 196 in 20 overs.

Asif Iqbal started the Dubai team's reply in a quick fashion and kept blasting runs from one end while his partners repeatedly changed at the other end.

Fayyaz then stepped with the ball and shone again.

He managed to pick up six wickets for 16 runs and also had a hand in ending a brilliant knock by Asif Iqbal.

He had just completed his century with nine sixes and eight fours when Fayyaz caught him off Sajjad Saaed for a brilliant 101 off just 49 balls.

Six-wicket win

Joining Atlas Telecom in the semifinals was another Abu Dhabi team, William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana, who managed a six-wicket win over Fortune Group.

The ever-green Irfan Haider once again played a stellar role in Gymkhana's win.

He took a three wicket haul that helped restrict Fortune to 135 for 8 in 20 overs.

Awais Aftab dismissed opener Usman Rafiq first ball and Fortune were always under pressure after that despite a half century from Humayon Taj.

Haider picked up three for 20, who then began Gymkhana's run chase.

He put on 59 for the opening wicket with Kashif Mahmoud, who scored 19, and laid the foundation for the Abu Dhabi team's win.

Haider scored 40 off 30 balls with eight boundaries and one six.