Sharjah: Alubond Tigers put up a dominant performance to thrash Sewa CC by 10 wickets for a place in the semi-final of the 29th Ramadan Rathath MF Cup 2017, organised by the Sharjah Cricket Club at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Sheraz Ahmad bagged three wickets to restrict Sewa CC to 136 and later Mohammad Qasim and Wajahat Butt scored unbeaten half centuries to guide Alubond Tigers home.
Put in to bat, Sewa CC had a disastrous start losing four wickets for just 15 runs. Opener Babar Ghazanfar stood firm at one end the upheaval at the other end. He shared small partnerships with S. Tausifur Rahman (11) and Nabeel Pulicharchi (12) as Sewa CC mustered 136 for eight in 20 overs.
Ghazanfar remained unbeaten on 90 from 60 balls and his innings was peppered with five boundaries and six sixes.
For Alubond Tigers, Sheraz Ahmad won the Man of the Match award for his three wickets in four overs giving away just 13 runs. Sultan Ahmad and Fayyaz Ahmad also shone with the ball, claiming two wickets each.
Chasing a modest total, Alubond Tigers openers Qasim and Butt played freely and remained unbeaten till the end to surpass the target in just 12 overs.
Butt was the more aggressive of the two and he hammered a 39-ball unbeaten 76 studded with four boundaries and eight sixes. Qasim’s unbeaten 56 came from 33 deliveries and it was laced with four boundaries and as many sixes.
Brief scores: Alubond Tigers bt Sewa CC by 10 wickets. Sewa CC: 136 for 8 in 20 overs (Babar Ghazanfar 90 not out; Sheraz Ahmad 3/13, Sultan Ahmad 2/22, Fayyaz Ahmad 2/34) Alubond Tigers: 139 for no loss in 12 overs (Mohammad Qasim 56 not out, Wajahat Butt 76 not out). Man of the match: Sheraz Ahmad.
