Khan spearheads ECB Blues victory over Phoenix Medicines

Dubai : ECB Blues, spearheaded by a solid half-century from Khurram Khan, defeated Phoenix Medicines by 16 runs in the final to win the first Dubai Sports City Ramadan T-20 Tournament, organised by the Dubai Sports City under the auspices of the Dubai Cricket Council, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.

The experienced batsman cracked 53 off 41 balls with one four and two sixes as ECB Blues, put in by Phoenix Medicines, piled up a challenging 171 for seven in the allotted 20 overs.

Fine start

They were off a fine start with their openers Arshad Ali (18 off 11 balls) and Faizan Ahmed (28 off 22 balls) prospering in a solid 44-run start.

Amjad Ali further consolidated the gains with a useful innings of 25 off 21 balls with two fours while Mohammad Nouman (14) and Gulam Rasool (15) kept the momentum rolling to help their side put up a decent total.

Phoenix Medicines pressed into service as many as seven bowlers, but it was Zeeshan Khan who emerged as the most successful bowler, claiming three wickets for 28 runs.

Phoenix Medicines, in reply, stuttered early in their innings, losing both the openers with just seven runs on the board. Haroon Rashid, however, steadied the ship with an authoritative unbeaten innings of 71 runs off 50 balls which included five fours and four sixes.

He was involved in some useful partnerships with Shakeel Raja (29 off 25 balls) and Zeeshan Khan (24 off 15 balls), but failed to provide the finishing touch to the final as Phoenix Medicines were restricted to 155 for eight. Shoaib Sarwar, Ahmad Raza and Rasool bowled well for ECB Blues to see off a determined fight-back from their opponents.

Irfan Hyder of ECB Blues was named Player of the Tournament while Phoenix Medicines' Shakeel Raja and Haroon Ahmad were adjudged the Best Bowler and the Best Batsman.

Scores

ECB Blues beat Phoenix Medicines by 16 runs: ECB Blues 171 for seven (Khurram Khan 53, Faizan Ahmad 28, Arshad Ali 18, Amjad Ali 25, Zeeshan Khan 3-28) Phoenix Medicines 155 for 8 (Haroon Ahmad 71 not out, Shakeel Raja 29, Zeeshan Khan 24; Shoaib Sarwar 2-10, Ahmad Raza 2-28, Gulam Rasool 2-31). Man of the match: Haroon Ahmad.