Dubai: United Bank Limited (UBL) avenged their loss in the Bukhatir League final against Alubond Tigers when they won by five wickets to lift the 9th Al Dhaid Gold Cup tournament on Friday.
Alubond began badly by losing their top four wickets for just 30 runs.
Fayyaz Ahmad and Samiullah Younas put on a 39-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Fayyaz fell for 26 runs.
Younas went on to hit 62 runs from 72-balls with six boundaries and three sixes.
Skipper Nasir Aziz and Sultan Ahmad hit 18 runs each but Alubond could post only 160 runs from 34.2 overs.
Speaking to Gulf News, Rizwan CP, of Alubond, who was adjudged Player of the tournament for scoring 390 runs and taking four wickets from the matches, said: “It was a low score for us but still we fought hard to take their five wickets. We all were a little tired after playing two 50-over matches in the semi-final and final the previous two days. Three hard fought matches on the trot had drained our players. It is very pleasing to have scored 390 runs at an average of 130 but it would have been nicer if my team won the tournament.”
For UBL, the target was an easy one but they got off to a shaky start with two wickets falling in quick succession. Muhammad Shakir (27) and Mohammad Boota (23) steadied the UBL innings. Saeed hit a steady unbeaten 46 from 55 balls with four boundaries and a six while Saqlain Haider hit a quick 32 from 27 balls and UBL reached the target in 34 overs.
Brief scores: United Bank Limited bt Alubond Tigers by 5 wkts. Alubond Tigers: 160 in 34.2 overs (Fayyaz Ahmad 26, Samiullah Younas 62, Mohammad Naveed Saleem 4 for 33, Mujahid Amin 2 for 16). UBL 166 for 5 in 34 overs (Muhammed Shakir 27, Mohammad Boota 23, Usman Saeed 46n.o, Saqlain Haider 32). Man of the Match: Muhammad Naveed. Individual awards: Best batsman: Amjad Ali (271 runs), best bowler: Asif Mumtaz (15 Wkts). Player of the Tournament: Rizwan CP (390 runs & four wkts).
