Centurions Arfan Haider and Mahroz Khan in record stand

Abu Dhabi: Arfan Haider and Mahroz Khan smashed centuries and shared a record 400-run opening wicket partnership for William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana, to score a resounding victory over Adgas in the Division 1 Al Hamad trophy.

Haider hit 168 while Mahroz scored 156 before they both retired on reaching the milestone partnership in 45 overs at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. They reached the 400-mark thanks to extras.

After the heroics of the opening pair, Kamran Mustafa, opening the bowling for Gymkhana, grabbed seven wickets to send Adgas crashing to 84 all out.

Haider, a UAE international, hit 22 fours and two sixes off 140 balls, while Mahroz’s 136-ball knock was highlighted by 21 hits to the fence.

Gulam Farid (23 not out off eight balls) and Mohammad Shafiq (42 off 22) added 76 in five overs for their team to post 476 for three.

Multiplex International made a bright start by winning their opening match against Cost Cutter by 46 runs.

It was excellent teamwork from them, with almost every batsman chipping in with runs while Mohammad Yasir and Imran Haider accounted for seven wickets between them.

The opener Waseem Butt (50) shared two half-century partnerships to give them the platform to score 320 for nine.

Butt put on 54 for the first wicket with Ikhlaq Butt (26) and 63 for the second wicket with Haroon Ahmad (37). Mohammad Kashif, the No 4 batsman, stroked 52 off 60 balls.

The match between Danube and New Medical Centre was abandoned before completion due to a heavy downpour.

Before the rain, Indika Sampath, the NMC opener, hammered 60 off 33 balls in the team’s 79 for four in 10 overs in reply to Danube’s 247 all out.