Sharjah: Fly Emirates once again lifted their game at the right time to emerge as the champions of the Twenty20 cricket tournament.
In the final at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, they defeated Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Blues by three wickets to avenge their defeat in the earlier round.
The hero of Emirates's victory was the UAE team skipper Arshad Ali. This consistent batsman, who has spearheaded Emirates to many victories, cracked a breezy half-century to upset ECB's plans of a repeat performance.
Sparkling effort
ECB, batting first, piled up a challenging 167 for 7. Saqib Ali stole the show with a sparkling 75 off 60 balls with nine boundaries and a six. Mohammad Tauqir too chipped in with 25 runs with two sixes. Aosaf Ali remained unbeaten on 14 while Rameez Shehzad hit up 12 runs.
ECB could have put up a bigger total but for the tight bowling from Amjad Javed and Javed Esmail, who took two wickets each.
Fly Emirates, chasing a run rate of 8.4 runs per over, raced to the target with ease. Arshad set the tempo with some lovely shots to hit 63 off just 35 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
The in-form Kashif Khan hit 32 with three sixes while Javed Esmail and Amjad Javed hit 24 and 17 runs respectively. Though Tauqir took two wickets, he gave away 46 runs, while Wasim Bari too took two wickets for 36 runs.
Winning the match in 19.1 overs, Emirates won the glittering Rosy Blue FZE Trophy and Dh5,000, while ECB won Dh3,000.
Khalid Latif of Seven Seas Strikers was adjudged the player of the tournament, while Amjad Javed (Fly Emirates) and Mohammad Tariq (Seven Seas Strikers) won the best batsman and best bowler awards respectively.
The trophy and awards were presented by Tushar Khambatti of Rosy Blue in the presence of ECB Administrator Mazhar Khan and Sharjah Cricket Cricket council officials, Zain Ghazali and Mansoor Pasha.
SCORES
Fly Emirates beat ECB Blues by three wickets:
ECB Blues 167 for 7 (Saqib Ali 75, Mohammad Tauqir 25, Javed Esmail 2 for 36, Amjad Javed 2 for 19) Fly Emirates 168 for 7 in 19.1 overs (Arshad Ali 63, Kashif Khan 32, Javed Ismail 24, Wasim Bari 2 for 36, Mohammad Tauqir 2 for 46). Man of the Match: Arshad Ali.
Player of the tournament: Khalid Latif (Seven Seas Strikers)
Best batsman: Amjad Javed (Fly Emirates).
Best bowler: Mohammad Tariq (Seven Seas Strikers).
VAZHISOJAN/Gulf News
Fly Emirates cricket team won the Rosy Blue Trophy defeating Emirates Cricket Board Blues in the final of the Twenty20 tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
