Ali century guides NMC into title clash

Sharjah: Saqib Ali, who won the best bowler award in the recent Shyam Bhatia annual awards for domestic cricket excellence, revealed that his strength is still batting.

Cracking a brilliant 114, he guided New Medical Centre (NMC) past Eurocon Alubond into the final of the Al Dhaid Gold Cup.

"It was nice to get a century immediately after the award. I got the best bowler award because I took the maximum wickets in the Bukhatir league. With this century I have reminded everyone that my forte is still my batting," Ali told Gulf News .

Electing to bat first, the Abu-Dhabi based NMC went for the runs quickly. They piled up 264 for 7, mainly through Ali's 114. His teammate Indika Sampath hit 66 while Asim Ijaz chipped in with 26.

"I hit eight boundaries and two sixes and my century came off just 90 balls," added Ali.

Eurocon Alubond chased the total brilliantly. Zulfiqar hit a 101 to lead the chase. UAE player Vikrant Shetty too cracked a fine 64. However, they could not reach the target mainly due to UAE spinner Shadeep Silva. He took three wickets for 35 runs with good support from Kashif and Atif, who took two wickets each.

NMC will now meet Consolidated Shipping Services in the final.

In another semifinal, CSS beat Lanka Lions by two wickets. Lanka Lions could have reached the final had their batsmen put few more runs. They were restricted to 176 for 9 in the allotted 40 overs through Kashif Ahmed's three wicket spell and Rizwan Latif, who took two wickets.

CSS reached the target in the last over. Hareesh led the chase and top scored with 39.

In the Texas Best Cup being held at Seven Seas ground, Active IT and Channel Media recorded identical seven wickets victories.