Naeemullah steers CSS into final

Another superb allround performance from Naeemullah Khan helped Consolidated Shipping Services (CSS) beat Emirates airlines and enter the final of the Emirates airlines Gold Cup, being organised by Dubai Cricket Council, at the DCC grounds.

Naeemullah cracked a hard-hitting 64 (51b, 4x4, 3x6) and picked up two wickets to help his team win by 47 runs.

Consolidated Shipping, who were put into bat lost their opener Rowmahs Mohammed for 19. Kashif Ahmed and one-drop Asghar Ali put on 50 runs for the second wicket before Kashif, after an unusually sedate innings was out for 35 off 74 balls. At the half way mark, CSS were 82 for 2.

Two runs short of the 100-run mark, Asghar Ali too fell, caught and bowled by Bilal, for 33.

Naeemullah and Syed Maqsood (23) put on 53 runs for the fourth wicket. After Maqsood's departure Naeemullah took charge and went for the bowling. At the end of the 50 overs, CSS managed 236 for 8.

Emirates got off to a bad start with opener Mohammed Imran being run out for a duck. Arshad Ali and Peter Rodrigues put on 52 for the second wicket before Ali was out for 24.

To make matter worse, a well settled Rodrigues too was run out for 36, two drop Fahad Usman too was run out and by the 26th over Emirates were 100 for 4 in the 26th over.

Though Kashif Khan 46 (48b, 2x4, 2x6) tried to pull his team out of trouble. Sammer Nayak bowled a tight length and struck vital blows picking the prize wicket of Khuram Khan (12). Naeemullah wiped off the tail to quicken the victory.

Meanwhile, HSBC was awarded a walk over against Dulsco, who could field only nine players. In the Mobil Cup, Zulfiqar of Emirates Bank Group (EBG) hit an unbeaten 117 off just 31 balls with 13 sixes and seven fours to help his team win by a huge 176-runs over Smart Cricket Club.

Zulfiqar, who has enjoys hitting sixes virtually tore apart the Smart Club attack to guide his team to a whopping 254 for 3 in 25 overs. In another match, Sharjah Cricket Club overcome Emirates Cricket Board by seven wickets through Nayyar Ansari's 94.

Summarised scores:

Emirates airlines Cup

Consolidated Shipping Services 236 for 8 in 50 overs (Kashif Ahmed 35, Asghar Ali 33, Syed Maqsood 33, Naeemullah 64, Bilal 3 for 35, Peter Rodrigues 2 for 53) bt Emirates airlines 189 in 47.4 overs (Arshad Ali 24, Peter Rodrigues 36, Fahad Usman 28, Kashif Khan 46, Naeemullah 2 for 35, Sameer Nayak 4 for 34). Man of the match: Naeemullah.

Mobil Cup

ECB 182 for 9 in 25 overs (Atif Ali 41, Najam 74, Sajid Ansari 2 for 34, Omer 3 for 30, Nayyar 2 for 7) lost to Sharjah Cricket Club 184 for 3 in 21.1 overs (Nayyar Ansari 94, Jamil 22, Shahzad 50n.o, Amir Shahzad 2 for 27) Man of the match: Nayyar Ansari.

Emirates Bank Group 254 for 3 in 25 overs (Sajid Latif 52, Akbar Rana 52, Zulfiqar 117n.o, Varma 3 for 44) bt Smart Cricket Club 78 in 19.4 overs (Sanjay 2 for 17, Akbar Rana 2 for 17, Saleem 2 for 17, Maksoud 2 for 4) Man of the match: Zulfiqar.