Umm Al Quwain: Al Nabooda Insurance Brokers (Anib) XI on Top team carried the form that won them the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) title last month to Umm Al Quwain to emerge as the champions of the UAQ Cricket Association Champions Trophy. In the final, Anib defeated Arabian Cricket Club by 28 runs after posting 170 for seven in 20 overs.
Speaking to Gulf News, Akshay Kadalilae, skipper of the Anib team said: “In Umm Al Quwain, we have won two tournaments and finished runner-up in another. We also won the Legends Cricket league. In Ajman, we finished runner-up in the Super Sevens tournament played by seven teams and also in the ICC Trophy organised by Dubai Cricket Council. Overall we have been performing very well in all recent tournaments.”
The hero for Anib against Arabian Club was Fanus Kanwal, who hit 70 runs off just 45 balls with four boundaries and five sixes in ANIB’s total of 170 for 7. Hari Prasad Poojary too chipped in with 40 runs off 25 balls.
“The secret of our success is we are blending well as a team. Over the years, everyone knows his role and each others role too and we perform accordingly,” added Akshay.
Chasing the big target, Arabian Club’s opener Sarath Chandan scored a 15-ball 25 with the help of four boundaries. Rafaqath Ali too weighed in with 24 from 25 balls but Anib kept taking wickets at regular intervals.
Though Mopiliswamy held on to hit an unbeaten 33-ball 37, Arabian Club could manage only 142 for six in 20 overs with Sarosh Kadalilae picking up two vital wickets.
Meanwhile in the Ramada Gulf Cup T20 tournament in Ajman, Tariq Jamil smashed a breezy century in Memon Cricket Club’s 82-run victory over Ramada Hotel Ajman in the Corporate division match of the Ramada Gulf Cup T20 tournament in Ajman.
Jamil was in an aggressive mode as he singlehandedly took on the Ramada Hotel attack despite Sher Khan’s brilliant four-wicket spell. Jamil went on to score 115 runs in Memon CC’s score of 197 for 6. In reply, Ramada Hotel Ajman’s team were bundled out for 115 runs.
Another fine century of the week came from Farrukh Kazmi in the ninth Al Dhaid T20 Touranment at the Al Dhaid Cricket Village as Cost Cutter CC recorded a 61-run victory over Eids CC. Kazmi cracked an unbeaten 144 with Asim Kaleem to help Cost Cutters post 263 for one in 20 overs. Eids were restricted to 202 for nine in 20 overs.
