Sharjah: Bukhatir XI, a team named after Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, who built the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and brought international cricket to UAE, recorded their first victory in 27th Sharjah Ramadan tournament.
Playing in their first tournament, Bukhatir XI trounced Ramada Hotel by 94 runs. The team is managed by Khalaf Bukhatir, son of Bukhatir and coached by UAE team assistant coach Shahzada Saleem Qasim.
Speaking to Gulf News, Qasim said: “This team is made up of employees from Bukhatir Group of companies and Sharjah Cricket Academy players. Playing a top tournament and being able to win matches will be a big boost to the players.”
The hero of their first win was Shamroz Khan, who took five wickets including a hat-trick. “Shamroz’s accurate right-arm off-spin got him five wickets with a hat-trick. This will help others to do well in the coming matches,” said Qasim.
Bukhatir XI also batted well with openers Abdullah Azhar and Khalid Shah adding 35 runs. The second wicket partnership put Bukhatir XI in a very strong position. Shah and Shiraz Ahmad put on 121 runs in just 10 overs. Shah hit 79 runs from 53 with six sixes and four boundaries. Ahmad scored 54 off 34 balls before being run out. Mohammad Zubair chipped in with an unbeaten 24 from just 11 deliveries to help Bukhatir XI pile up 202 for five in 20 overs.
Chasing the target, Ramada Hotel lost wickets quickly with UAE’s promising youngster Justin James picking two wickets in his first two deliveries of his first over. Though Ramada Hotel managed to recover through Zaman Shaikh (19) and Shabnam Amjad (45), Shamroz’s deadly spell claiming four wickets in his third over including a hat-trick destroyed them.
In other matches, New Medical Centre (NMC) recorded two consecutive victories in the tournament.
Brief scores:
Bukhatir XI bt Ramada Hotel by 94 runs. Bukhatir XI: 202 for 5 in 20 overs (Khalid Shah 79, Shiraz Ahmed 54, Mohammad Zubair 24 n.o.; Wajid Ali 2 for 24). Ramada Hotel: 108 in 16 overs (Shabnan Amjad 45, Shamroz Khan 5 for 12, Justin James 2 for 11). Man of the match: Shamroz Khan.
NMC bt Old School Boys by 4 wkts. Old School Boys: 132 for 9 in 20 overs (Nalin Khaitan 44, Waseem Bari 30; Manjula Guruge 2 for 28, Hassan Sultan 2 for 17). NMC 133 for 6 in 18.5 overs (Fayyaz Ahmed 31, Tanveer Ahmed 42, Mazhar Bashir 30, Fawad Ghafoor 3 for 24, Salman Baber 2 for 24). Man of the match: Mazhar Bashir.
NMC bt Radio4 by 109 runs (Fayyaz Ahmed 68 retd out, Tanveer Ahmed 39, Mazhar Bashir 20, Tanzil Munirulla 26, Jai Desai 2 for 37). Radio4: 79 in 19.4 overs (Hemant Jhulka 22, Alam Gir 4 for 6, Mazhar Bashir 3 for 16, Tanzil Munirulla 2 for 12). Man of the match: Alam Gir.
