Abu Dhabi: Inspired by their skipper Fazal Shahid, Emirates Future International celebrated one of their biggest sporting successes in their history by winning the UAE Exchange U16 Abu Dhabi School League.
Entering the tournament as rank outsiders, Emirates Future International stunned defending champions Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Pakistan School by 40 runs in the final at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council’s Oval-2 on Tuesday. Emirates Future had earlier created a huge upset in the semi-finals as well, knocking out hot favourites Abu Dhabi Indian School. And in the final, they proved that semi-final result was not a flash in the pan.
For Shahid, the Emirates Future captain, it was a repeat of the U-14 ADSL title they won two years ago.
“I’m really thrilled I managed to contribute with both bat and ball in this win today,” said Shahid, who won both the Player of the Tournament (for his 140 runs and 10 wickets in four games up to the semi-finals) and Player of the Final (45 and 2-21) awards.
“Our team, you can say, was one of the weakest in the tournament, but we all stuck together and executed the plans well. Once we won the semis against tournament favourites ADIS, we started to believe that we can go all the way.
“The turning point today was the opening stand between me and Ishit Patel. After we both fell, Waleed came in and stuck around till the end. He hit some big blows to take us to a challenging total.”
Electing to take first lease of the wicket, the openers Shahid and Patel provided them a solid start, adding 67 for the first wicket in 11 overs before Patel was run out attempting a needless second run.
Essam Ahmad (0) fell at the same score and Emirates Future lost their way a bit before a battling 36 (42 balls) from Waleed Aziz, studded with two fours and a six, pushed their score to a challenging 143 for nine.
Pakistan School were given a bright start by Anwar Khan, who smashed a 16-ball 32, but his dismissal by Ahmad Gul, to a brilliant catch off his own bowling, put the brakes on the run-chase.
The chase became a struggle thereafter with wickets tumbling at regular intervals. Patel and Shahid bowled in tandem to take five wickets from a combined eight overs between them.
Haji ur Rahman of Pakistan School won the Best Batsman’s award and Sailles Jaishankar of ADIS took the Best Bowler’s trophy. The Cambridge High School won the Dilawar Mani Spirit of Cricket award.
Brief Scores: Emirates Future International bt Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Pakistan School by 40 runs. Emirates Future International 143 for 9 in 20 overs (Fazal Shahid 45, Waleed Aziz 36, Habib Ullah 3-19, Obaid ur Rahman 2-26) Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Pakistan School 103 all out in 17.2 overs (Anwar Khan 32, Ishit Patel 3-19, Fazal Shahid 2-21).
The champions Emirates Future team: Fazal Shahid (captain), Ishit Patel, Essam Ahmad, Waleed Aziz, Rahul Ayinkalath, KB Saifuddin, Mohammad Shahid, Dilshad Mon, Nirmit Patel, Ahmad Gul, Joel Vetrichelvam, Abhiram Nandan, Mohammad Ameen, Vedan Sen, Sagar Binu, Mashooq Ahmad (Coach/Master in charge).
