Sport | Cricket
Eurocon emerge champions of Ramadan tournament
Through a disciplined batting and bowling performance, the Eurocon Alubond team emerged as the champions of the Trucape Kibsons Twenty20 Ramadan tournament at the Al Jurf cricket ground on Sunday night.
- By K.R. Nayar, Senior Reporter
- Published: 01:18 September 30, 2008
Ajman: Through a disciplined batting and bowling performance, the Eurocon Alubond team emerged as the champions of the Trucape Kibsons Twenty20 Ramadan tournament at the Al Jurf cricket ground on Sunday night. They defeated Emirates Islamic Bank by 57 runs.
Pakistan's international player Rizwan Ahmad was the architect of their victory. He smashed an unbeaten 71 off 42 balls studded with eight boundaries and two sixes. He also checked the run flow of the bank men taking two crucial wickets and also a fine running catch to be rightly judged as the man of the final and the man of the series.
Tough
Emirates Islamic Bank won the toss but elected to field. Eurocon went on to post 195 for 7 and through their bowlers, who bowled an immaculate line and length restricted the bank men to 138 for 7.
"We won mainly because of our team spirit and planning. Our batsmen batted with a lot of responsibility, restraining from playing wild shots and our bowlers bowled a disciplined line and length. It was also a good toss to lose and it was nice to bat first. It's always tough to chase even a total beyond 150 runs," Zulfikar Ali, the skipper of the Eurocon team, told Gulf News.
The bank men started on a positive note with Asadullah clean bowling hard hitter Jarnail Singh for one run.
Harris Baig and Ameen Mujtaba put on 45 runs. Naeem Khan and skipper Asim Kaleem struck repeatedly but Rizwan Ahmad turned the trend. Picking up the right ball to hit and finding the gaps, Rizwan guided Eurocon to a huge total.
Emirates Islamic Bank began their chase badly. Eurocon's international players from Sri Lanka Damina Dinesh and Ruchira Perera generated excellent pace. Dinesh took the prize wicket of Faizan Asif in the second over. Opener Usman Saleem tried to gain control with a pull and lofted drive to the boundaries off Dinesh. Attempting another lofted shot; Jarnail Singh caught him at long on for 26.
Nasir Aziz, Rizwan Ahmad and Indika struck repeatedly to tighten the grip. In the 15th over Rizwan took the prize wicket of Azhar Gul, who hit a defiant 44. The bank men needed 92 runs in the last five overs but could add only 34 more runs.
Scores
Eurocon Alubond bt Emirates Islamic Bank by 57 runs. Eurocon Alubond 195 for 7 (Harris Baig 35, Ameen Mujtaba 29, Rizwan Ahmad 71n.o, Naeem Khan 3 for 35, Asim Kaleem 2 for 30) Emirates Islamic Bank 138 for 7 (Usman Saleem 26, Azhar Gul 44, Asim Kaleem 28, Rizwan Ahmad 2 for 19, Indika 2 for 39, Dinesh 2 for 26). Man of the final: Rizwan Ahmad
Individual awards: Man of the series: Rizwan Ahmad, best batsman: Ahmad, Dar (Mantech), best bowler Nameem Khan (EIB), best fielder: Hanif Malek (Eurocon).
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