Emirates down NMC by 64 runs

Emirates airline overcame NMC by 64 runs in the Emirates airline Cup, being organised by Dubai Cricket Council at the DCC grounds.

Electing to bat, Emirates got off to a good start with openers Mohammed Imran (76) and Arshad Ali (33) putting on 127 runs for the first wicket in 22 overs.

Though at the half way mark, they lost both the openers one-drop batsman Peter Rodrigues (37) and Fahad Usman (60) put on 71 for the third wicket and saw the team past the 200-run mark in the 36th over. Though Amit Vedpatak struck repeatedly to pick three for 44, Emirates totted up 297 for eight in 50 overs.

Chasing the total, NMC lost opener Satish Shinde for three. Though Kaif Gaury (36) and Tahir Javed (34) tried to put their team on the road with a 43-run partnership for the second wicket, Javed Ismail struck vital blows picking both the wickets.

Four down Rajinder Prasad and Amit Vedpatak took up the challenge and the pair put on 102 runs for the sixth wicket. With only eight overs remaining, the batsmen went for quick runs and Prasad (46), Vedpatak (56) and next man Yogesh Mistry got run out. Arshad picked up the last two wickets to end NMC's run chase.

In another match, Union National Bank outplayed Emirates Cricket Board by five wickets. Batting first, ECB made 209 in 49.3 overs. Meeraj (61) and Imran (44) were the main scorers. UNB went about the task systematically with Zubair Nadeem (47) emerging as the top scorer.

In the Mobil Cup, ABN Ambro DCC Starlets beat Xerox Cricket Club by 50 runs. Starlets' opener Salman Farooq (60) and one-down batsman Abdullah Hanif (67) and Akhif Hameed (54) helped their team register 234 for five in 25 overs. Xerox were then restricted to 184 in 22.2 over mainly due to an excellent spell from Salman Farooq, who bagged four for 29.

In another match, Transgulf outplayed WIBE by 54 runs through a brilliant spell of six for 28 from Sadish Kumar.

Summarised scores:

Emirates airline Cup: Emirates airlines 297 for eight in 50 overs (Mohammed Imran 76, Arshad Ali 33, Peter Rodrigues 37, Fahad Usman 60, Amit Vedpatak three for 44) bt NMC 233 in 46.4 overs (Kaif Gaury 36, Tahir Javed 34, Rajinder Prasad 46, Amit Vedpatak 56). Man of the match: Imran.

ECB 209 in 49.3 overs (Meeraj 61, Imran 44, Nasir three for 44) lost to UNB 212 for five in 43 overs (Zubair Nadeem 47, Nadeem Ahmed 35). Man of the match: Nasir Siddiqui.

Mobil Cup: ABN Ambro DCC Starlets 234 for five in 25 overs (Abdullah Hanif 67, Salman Farooq 60, Adil Farooq 54n.o) bt Xerox Cricket Club 184 in 22.2 overs (Wilson 30, Salman four for 29). Man of the match: Salman Farooq.

Transgulf 199 for eight in 25 overs (Ismail 65, Kazim 46, Sadish Kumar six for 28) WIBE 145 in 22.3 overs (Rajender Prasad 31, Sadish Kumar 41, S. Muthu three for 22). Man of the match: Sadish Kumar.