Dubai: Strong favourites Multiplex International recorded an easy eight-wicket victory against Dubai Municipality to storm into the quarter-finals of the 13th Dulsco Ramadan Cricket Tournament, organised by Dubai Cricket Council in association with Dulsco Sports Club at the Zabeel Park Cricket Ground, Dubai.
After Dubai Municipality has posted 154 for 8 in the allotted 20 overs, Multiplex International hammered the required runs in just 11.2 overs for their second successive victory to move ahead in Group D.
The other quarter-finalists from the group will be decided on July 14 when Future King Heroes and Dubai Muncipalty lock horns with each team having scored a victory each.
Dubai Municipality batted first and opener Tariq Rasool fell to Abdulla Haq for a duck. Tousif Asghar hit 20 aided by two sixes before being the second wicket to fall on 37. A 40-run partnership for the third wicket between Ummer Farooq (31, 21b, 4x3, 6x1) and Khalid Ahmad (18) provided the momentum for the Dubai Municipality innings before both perished in the space of 12 runs to make it 89 for 4 in the fifth over.
After Riyaz (2) was dismissed, Jameel Hyder and Jaffer Shabaz made solid middle-order contributions to propel Dubai Municipality 154 for 8 in 20 overs. Hyder belted three sixes in his 18-ball 32 while Shabaz’s 22 contained a four and a six. Mohammed Zahid was the most impressive bowler for Multiplex International with 3-36.
Multiplex International Opener Syed Maqsood and Ali Zeeshan batted in positive fashion and spanked the bowlers all over the park. Zeeshan hit breezy 18. Maqsood and next man Mohammad Shehzad took the score to 84 when Zeeshan departed after an aggressive 41 off just 13 balls with two hits and five over it. Shehzad cracked an unbeaten 58 blasting three fours and five sixes in 28 balls to walk away with the Multiplex Man of the Match award. Ahmad remained not out on 30.
