Sharjah: Zayed Cricket Academy stamped their claims to be the strongest academy team in the UAE by winning the Emirates Cricket Board’s prestigious UAE Academy Cricket Under-17 League for the second successive year. In the final of the 2018 edition played at Sharjah English School ground, Zayed Academy defeated Desert Cubs Cricket Academy by 28 runs on Saturday.
In 2017, Zayed Academy had won the inaugural title defeating G Force in the final.
This 30-over tournament, which was played over a six-month period with 15 academies contesting for the title, concluded on Saturday with Zayed Academy, electing to bat first and posting a challenging 168 for nine in the allotted 30 overs. Osama Hassan cracked 63 off 67 balls with two sixes and a boundary and opener Anwar Khan hit a quick 30 runs off 27 balls with three sixes and two fours. Khalid Mahmood chipped in with a run-a-ball 22 runs. Desert Cubs’ Glenn Fernandas bagged three wickets for 25 runs.
Chasing the total, Desert Cubs got off to a bad start due to Zayed’s opening bowler Safeerullah Khan striking thrice to dismiss the top order batsmen. Though Desert Cubs’ middle order batsmen Brendon Martis (39) and Chanul DeSilva (25) tried their best to lift their team’s innings, off spinner Khalid Mahmood grabbing three wickets and leg spinner Osama Hassan taking two wickets, restricted Desert Cubs to 140 in 28.4 overs.
Speaking to Gulf News after lifting the trophy, Zayed Academy’s captain Raees Ayan said: “We do not have any magic formula behind our success. Our triumph is the result of hard work over the years from both the players and the coaching staff, and above all the outstanding teamwork. To win this prestigious tournament for the academies in the country is amazing. We were fortunate to win the toss and post a 160-plus score. Our bowlers ensured they put the pressure all through by bowling well backed by good ground fielding and excellent catches. It is indeed an amazing performance by our team in a tournament that lasted for nearly six months.”
Zayed Academy, based in Abu Dhabi, was established in 2005 and trains over 250 cricketers and have been regularly providing talented cricketers to UAE’s different age group teams for several years.
