Danube and Alubond breeze into semi-finals

Sharhah: Danube Lions who are having an impressive run in the 42nd Bukhatir League cricket tournament, and Alubond Tigers, who have been unstoppable in most recent tournaments, have reached the semi-finals.

In the quarter final matches at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Danube Lions produced deadly spells to sail to an easy eight-wicket victory over One Stop Tourism.

The star of Alubond Tigers triumph was Pakistan’s Test star Hasan Raza, who through an unbeaten half century steered his team past Ibsons Cricket Club by three wickets.

Danube will now meet Multiplex International in the semi-finals while Alubond will take on UBL in the other.

In the first quarter final, One Stop Tourism batsmen struggled from the start. Opener Mohammad Qasim fell after scoring a single and Chirag Suri scored just seven runs. Both fell to Sami Naizi who gave away just seven runs in his five overs with two maidens. Fahad Nawaz (17) and Rohit Singh (16) put some resistance but One Stop Tourism were shot out for 100 in 36.5 overs. Ali Afzal took three wickets in his 10 overs giving away 25 runs. Ahmed Raza took two wickets giving away 11 runs.

Danube won in just 16.4 overs through Shahzad Manna’s unbeaten 54 with five sixes and three fours.

In the second quarter final, Nasir Aziz restricted Ibsons to just 157 runs with four wickets in his eight overs giving away just 24 runs. Chasing the target, Alubond lost two quick wickets but Shahid Siddiq (20) and Hassan Raza ensured the win in 38 overs. Raza’s 68 off 104 deliveries contained five hits to the fence and one over it.

Brief scores: Danube Lions bt One Stop Tourism by eight wickets. One Stop Tourism: 100 in 36.5 overs (Ali Afzal 3 for 25, Sami Naizi 2 for 7, Ahmad Raza 2 for 11, Asif Iqbal 2 for 16). Danube Lions: 103 for 2 in 16.4 overs (Asif Iqbal 22, Shahzad Manna 54 n.o.) Man of the match: Ali Afzal.

Alubond Tigers bt Ibsons CC by three wickets. Ibsons CC: 157 in 44.2 overs (Omair Shoukat 29, Faisel Ather 29, Shahzad Malik 21, Nasir Aziz 4 for 24, Asif Mumtaz 3 for 39). Alubond Tigers: 161 for 7 in 38 overs (Shahid Siddiq 20, Hassan Raza 68 n.o., Umair Ali 23, Mohammad Tanvir 3 for 19, Misbah Khan 2 for 39, Irfan Sajid 2 for 44). Man of the match: Hasan Raza.