Abu Dhabi: United Bank Limited completed a double in the capital’s tournaments by annexing the UAE Exchange Centre Twenty20 Cup after a convincing six-wicket triumph over Abu Dhabi Gymkhana.
The bankers were right on top of the game from the very first over and bowled out Gymkhana for 85 before knocking off the runs with more than four overs to spare at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Mohammad Naveed, the UAE team’s paceman, provided the breakthrough when he had Tahir Butt (0) caught behind in his third delivery but that was the only success he had. Umar Farooq and Zaheer Maqsood then took two wickets each before Mohammad Ayaz, who shared the new ball with Naveed, returned for his second spell to grab three wickets.
UBL lost opener Syed Maqsood (5) in the second over and Amjad Ali (11) when the score was 25, but the result was never in doubt chasing such a modest total for a side boasting four UAE internationals.
The bankers won the Midcom Abu Dhabi Cricket Council President’s Cup two weeks ago.
The champion UBL team: Amjad Ali (Captain), Syed Maqsood, Dawood Ijaz, Usman Saeed, Mohammad Shakir, Saqlain Haider, Aqeel Anwar, Umar Farooq, Zaheer Maqsood, Mohammad Naveed, Mohammad Ayaz, Shahzad Khan.
Meanwhile, in the UAE Xchange T20 Plate, Eleven Lions emerged resounding winners over Etihad Engineering at the adjoining ADCC Nursery Oval-1.
Put into bat first, the Lions amassed 198 for eight with three of the top four batsmen firing in with useful contributions.
Etihad Engineering may have thought fielding first was a good decision after Irfan Dar dismissed Dharshana Mahesh (4) in the second over.
However, that was the only success they enjoyed as the Lions’ second wicket pair of Suneth Nilupul (69) and Dharshana Hewa (35) put on 105 to set them the platform. Tuan Imran, who came in after the fall of the second wicket, smashed 49 not out from 27 balls, highlighted by five fours and a couple of sixes to push his team’s total to a challenging one.
Etihad Engineering began the chase well with the openers putting on 42 in four overs before Imran provided the breakthrough.
Nalin Thenuwara and Linkan Alexander then took three wickets each to bowl out Etihad Engineering to 117.
The champions Eleven Lions: Don Arjuna (Captain), Patrick Russel, Dharshana Mahesh, Dharshana Hewa, Nalin Thenuwara, Linkan Alexander, Hiran Malintha, Suneth Nilupul, Tuan Imran, Kamal Rohan, Upul Shantha, Duminda Madushantha.
Brief Scores: United Bank Limited bt Abu Dhabi Gymkhana bt Abu Dhabi Gymkhana by six wickets. Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 85 all out in 20 overs (Awais Aftab 21, Mohammad Ayaz 3-21, Zaheer Maqsood 2-8, Umar Farooq 2-14) United Bank Limited 88 for 4 in 15.2 overs (Dawood Ijaz 26, Mohammad Shakir 20 not out, Adeel Raja 2-16)
Plate: Eleven Lions bt Etihad Engineering 81 runs. Eleven Lions 198 for 8 in 20 overs (Suneth Nilupul 69, Tuan Imran 49 not out, Dharshana Hewa 35) Etihad Engineering 117 all out in 15.2 overs (Sohail Chatta 36, Asif Butt 23, Linkan Alexander 3-9, Nalin Thenuwara 3-28).
