Sharjah: Waheed Ahmad cracked one of the fastest centuries in UAE’s domestic cricket with a shower of sixes that left everyone stunned last weekend. His unbeaten knock of 102 off just 27 balls helped his team Aqua Pacific Taha Cricket Club chase down a stiff target at the Technoxen Alliance Twenty20 Cup final at the Hamriya ground.
Ahmad’s knock contained 14 sixes and three boundaries as his team overhauled Splendid Cricket Club’s huge total of 198 for even and win the final by eight wickets in just 13.1 overs.
Speaking to Gulf News about his knock, Ahmad said: “After losing the first wicket in the seventh over, I walked in and decided to go for my shots from the very first ball. A target of 199 needed a quick start and I hit the first three balls for three consecutive sixes. After these shots, I told my partner to give me strike through singles and I went for big shots. I found that my timing was perfect and all the shots cleared the boundary.”
Right-handed Ahmad is the younger brother of UAE all-rounder Fayyaz Ahmad. “I always come out to bat at No.1 position and enjoy playing my shots. I have gained a lot of confidence after this knock and have got two more centuries. I want to keep scoring heavily,” he added.
Twenty-eight-year-old Ahmad, who came to the UAE nearly nine years ago, said: “I am from Gujrat in Pakistan. I did not play much in Pakistan as I got a job here. I began by playing for Ibsons and have so far won two Man of the Series awards and many Man of the Match awards. I also bowl off-breaks but I concentrate more on my batting and enjoy playing knocks like these,” said Ahmad, who has made his captain Asif Akhtar proud.
“It was a stunning knock. He made Splendid Club’s huge total look very small. The sixes were simply classy,” said Akhtar.
Ahmad hit most of his sixes straight down the ground. “Actually, I had no option but to go for my shots as the score was huge. My aim now is to also play for UAE like my brother who plays international cricket. I know I need to continue to score heavily to achieve it. Whatever I have learned about the game is from my brother with whom I played cricket from a very young age,” said Ahmad, who works as a Stores in-charge at Ibsons General Trading.
