Adnoc and Esnaad start with victories

Abu Dhabi: Defending champions Adnoc Distribution and Esnaad opened their campaigns in the Inter-Oil Companies Cricket Tournament, which kicked off at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council grounds here on Saturday.

Imran Zia, a veteran here in the capital and a former Pakistani pool specialist, did the star turn for Adnoc in their 75-run win over Adma Opco in a Group A fixture.

Batting first Zia slammed nine fours in a well-compiled innings that fell short of a century by four runs.

Zia's 96 along with Asif Khan's 43 and their 99-run second wicket stand helped Adnoc score 204 for 8.

In reply, Adma could only manage 129 for 7 as Irfan Bashir did the maximum damage with 4 for 25.

Brief scores:

Inter-Oil Companies Tourney (Group A): Esnaad beat NDC by 111 runs. Esnaad: 258 for 4 in 25 overs (Mohammad Waseem 142, Mohammad Asif 43, Adnan Bin Saeed 2 for 41, Syed Najam 2 for 45). NDC: 147 for 8 (Shihab Cherkala 26, Shahul Arafat 26, Mohammad Badshah 3 for 43, Hesham Ali 3 for 17). Man of the Match: Mohammad Waseem of Esnaad. Adnoc Dist. Beat Admo-Opco by 75 runs. Adnoc Dist.: 204 for 3 (Imran Zia 96, Asif Khan 43, Biju Nair 37n.o.). Adma-Opco: 129 for 7 (Ramesh Nagarjun 32, Wasim Rashid 31, Irfan Bashir 4 for 25). Man of the Match: Imran Zia of Adnoc Dist. Group B: Gasco beat Takreer by 19 runs: Gasco: 165 for 7 (Sameer Shaikh 67 n.o., Mahmoud Haroon 27, Nayeem Baji 30, Vinod Mehta 2 for 42). Takreer: 146 for 9 (Siraj Moidin 37, Ehsanullah Khan 27, Nayeem Baji 4 for 20). Man of the Match: Nayeem Baji of Gasco. Adgas beat Borouge by 46 runs: Adgas: 197 for 4 (Mohammad Qasim 71, Imran Ali 42, Ravichandra 3 for 22). Borouge:151 for 6 (Khurram Zia 53, Imran Ali 3 for 33). Man of the Match: Imran Ali of Adgas.