Huzurk shines in Jumeirah Group win

Dubai: Faizal Huzruk helped Jumeirah Group salvage some pride hitting an unbeaten 58 in a seven-wicket victory against Brookfield Multiplex as they bowed out of the 13th Dulsco Ramadan Cricket Tournament at the Zabeel Park Cricket Ground organised by Dubai Cricket Council in association with Dulsco Sports Club. Jumeirah Group restricted Brookfield Multiplex to 112 for 8 in 20 overs and then overhauled the target losing three wickets with 14 balls to spare to taste their first victory in three matches in Group B. For Brookfield Multiplex, this was the second consecutive defeat and they will look for some consolation victory when they play their final group match this week. Carfare and Cricket Maxway have already made it to the quarter-final from this group. Jumeirah Group opted to bowl first after winning the toss and quickly gained the ascendancy as Brookfield Multiplex collapsed due to some fiery pace bowling from Raj and Faisal. Sulaiman (7) was the first to depart, perishing to Faisal to make it 10 for 1. Then Raj and Omkar really ripped the heart out of the Broofield Multiplex’s batting with devastating spell which saw them claiming three wickets each. The scorecard looked an embarrassing one for Brookfield Multiplex at 38 for 8 and they were in danger of ending inside the 50-run mark. At this stage, Brookfield Multiplex needed someone to stay at the crease and Navid Jada and Prashant Shetty led by example with defiant innings. They remained unbeaten till the end after stitching a 73-run partnership for the ninth wicket to take the score to 112 in 20 overs. Navid made 28 (4x2) off 37 balls while Prashant, who was aggressive of the two, hit two sixes and two fours for his 39-ball 38. Jumeirah Group started their chase and with Huzruk in good form they never looked in trouble even though Raj Khadudar (2) and Dakshana (8) fell cheaply. Huzurk hit the ball brilliantly right from the start and his hard hitting 58 (4x2, 6x1, was just the knock Jumeirah Group needed to ram home the advantage. He found an able partner in Sunil Monteiro (26) and they fired the team on the path to victory before Huzruk and Ashan Thelge (5 not out) completed the formalities. Huzruk claimed the Multiplex Man of the Match award. .Brief scores: Jumeirah Group bt Brookfield Multiplex by seven wickets. Brookfield Multiplex 112 for 8 in 20 overs (Navid 28, Prashant Shetty 38; Raj 3 for 12, Omkar 3 for 17) versus Jumeirah Group 113 for 3 in 17.4 overs (Faizal Huzruk 58n.o, Sunil Monteiro 26).