Sharjah: Close finishes were witnessed in the Sharjah Cricket Council’s two Ramadan tournament matches. In the 26th Aseel Islamic Finance Sharjah Ramadan Cup 2014 Twenty20 cricket tournament, Albuound Tigers recorded a narrow ten runs win over Al Jabeen at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium while in the sixth Al Dhaid Ramadan tournament, Al Jabeen scored a five runs win over Al Faraa team at Al Dhaid Cricket Village ground. Both the matches were keenly fought from the start.
In the Sharjah Ramadan Cup, Alubond Tigers could muster only 127 runs before being all out in 19.5 overs. Chasing this easy target, Al Jabeen began well with Yaqoob Masih smashing 19 from 10 deliveries including a boundary and two sixes while Amit Verma gave him good support scoring a run-a-ball 20. Sheraz Ahmad put the brakes on with three quick wickets to tilt the match in Alubond Tigers favour. Shivam Sharma hit an unbeaten 24 from 21 deliveries but Al Jabeen could score only 117 for seven in 18 overs.
In another match, United Bank Limited trounced Emirates NBD by nine wickets with UAE’s left-arm spinner Ahmad Raza bagging four wickets for just three runs in 2.2 overs. Ayyaz Khan and Zaheer Maqsood took two wickets each.
Chasing the target, UBL opener Zaheer Maqsood smashed 23 from 10 balls to ensure the victory.
In Al Dhaid, Al Jabeen could post only 113 runs with only four of their batsmen coming good with the bat. Yaqoob Mashi top scored with a 31-ball 33 while Shivam Sharma chipped in with a quick 23 from 19 balls. Chasing the easy target, Al Faraa took things easy and got off to a bad start. Though Shezad Malek and Imran Maqsood steadied the innings through a 67-run stand for the third wicket, it was not enough. Malek even went on to hit 52 runs from 54 deliveries and Maqsood scored 29 from 27 balls. Once this partnership was broken Al Jabeen went for the kill with Faisal Khalil and Sultan Ansari taking two wickets each.
Brief scores:
Sharjah Ramadan tournament: Alubond Tigers bt Al Jabeen by 10 runs. Alubond Tigers: 127 in 19.5 overs (Zakir Malek 20, Umair Ali Khan 22, Sultan Ansari 3 for 26, Imran Munir 2 for 21, Naveed Mahmoud 2 for 27, Yaqoob Masin 2 for 30). Al Jabeen: 117 for 7 in 18 overs (Yaqoob Masih 19, Amit Verma 20, Yasir Kalim 20, Shivam Sharma 24n.o, Sheraz Ahmad 3 for 24, Nasser Aziz 2 for 19, Sultan Ahmad 2 for 22). Man of the match: Sheraz Ahmad.
UBL bt Emirates NBD by nine wickets. UBL: 41 in 12.2 overs (Ahmad Raza 4 for 3, Ayyaz Khan 2 for 10, Zaheer Maqsood 2 for 16). UBL: 42 for 1 in 3 overs (Zaheer Maqsood 23,). Man of the match: Ahmad Raza.
Al Dhaid tournament: Al Jabeen bt Al Faraa by 5 runs. Al Jabeen: 113 in 20 overs (Yaqoob Mashi 33, Shivam Sharma 23, Fayyaz Ahmad 3 for 25, Nasser Butt 3 for 23, Mohammad Amin 2 for 18, Chetan Kausara 2 for 19). Al Faraa: 108 for 5 in 20 overs (Shezad Malek 52, Imran Maqsood 29; Faisal Khalil 2 for 16, Sultan Ansari 2 for 9). Man of the match: Sultan Ansari.
