Phone conversation with mum inspires match-winning century

Sharjah Mohammad Azam feels it may have been his mother's blessings which helped him get a match-winning century for Eurocon Alubond in the semi-final of the Bukhatir A division tournament.

He cracked an unbeaten 151, studded with 12 boundaries and four sixers, to chase Nucaf Tellicherry's whopping total of 286 and guide his team to a six-wicket victory.

Eurocon will now take on Ibsons in the final at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium Wednesday from 5pm.

Speaking to Gulf News after his stunning knock, Azam said: "Before going out to bat, I called up my mother in Pakistan and she said she will pray for me to get a century. It was a huge total to chase and I knew I should play a big knock if we have to reach the final. It has been my dream to be playing in an A division final."

Habit forming

Producing such matchwinning performances has become quite a habit for Azam. In the Danube Cup final last year, he hit 25 runs off 11 balls and bagged three wickets against Ibsons to help Eurocon emerge the champions.

Once in the Sharjah Ramadan tournament, when Eurocon needed 25 runs to win in the last two overs against the star-studded Fly Emirates team, Azam hit 22 in one over with two sixers and two boundaries to help his team win with two balls to spare.

"Whenever I play, I only think about how to ensure a victory for my team. In fact, I was not at all aiming to reach 150 as my objective was only to reach the target," he added.

"It was my highest knock in domestic cricket and it was so pleasing to hit the winning run after completing my 150," said Azam, who also took two wickets with his left-arm spin.

Azam has also spun Eurocon to many victories, including one with his first hat-trick in the Sharjah Ramadan Rufi Cup Twenty20 tournament against Salala Malek Travels in 2008.

"Though I am delighted I got a hat-trick, my best spell was in the Gulf Super Sixes last year. I took five wickets in one over against Brookfield Multiplex," said Azam, who played alongside Test stars Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami and Faisal Iqbal as an Under-19 player.

"I was part of the Hyderabad Under-19 team that played against South Africa Under-19 team which at that time had Graeme Smith in their squad," recollected Azam, who arrived in UAE seven years ago and works as senior purchase officer with Eurocon.

"My aim is now to represent UAE in international matches and hopefully my consistent performance may win me a place in the squad."