Rising cricket stars shine bright

Dubai: They are the star performers of the Dubai Cricket Council's Green Valley inter-school cricket tournament and they proudly walked away with the top three awards and scholarships worth Dh2,000 each.

Adil Khalil, who captained the Arab Unity School to title triumph, bagged the Player-of-the-Tournament award, while Kailash Vijay Chotalia, the skipper of the Dubai Modern High School, who finished runners-up, won the Best Batsman award.

Dubai Modern's leg-spinner Gurjyot Singh Nanda was named the Best Bowler of the tournament.

"It is a great feeling to have led the team to victory and also won the top prize of the tournament," Khalil told Gulf News.

At a colourful function held at the India Club, the DCC officials honoured the players and top teams.

Abdul Razzaq Kazim, the vice-president of the DCC, showered the top performers with cash rewards.

Match-winning knock

Khalil, a right-handed opener, scored 319 runs at an average of 53 and also took 4 wickets with his medium pace. It was his match-winning knock of 85 in the final that won his team the trophy.

"My best knock was the 98 I scored against Shaikh Rashid School," said Kahlil, who is the younger brother of UAE team allrounder Taymoor Khalil.

Kailash scored 206 runs from 5 innings, but remained not out three times for an average of 103 runs. "I improved my batting during our school team's tour to Kolkata last year," said Kailash, who hit a fighting unbeaten 78 in the final, but in vain.

Gurjyot, who idolises Shane Warne, is hoping to add more variation to his leg spin.