Sharjah: Mohammad Boota set the Sharjah Cricket Stadium alight with a whirlwind double century in the ongoing 42nd Bukhatir League tournament to steer United Bank Limited (UBL) to an emphatic 176-run victory over Red Flower Tourism. Boota’s 200 came off 148 balls and included 11 sixes and 13 boundaries.
Speaking to Gulf News after his aggressive knock that stunned the Red Flower bowlers, Boota said: “I am so happy to get a double century in this famous tournament. It was my first match for UBL and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Boota was a member of the Interface cricket team that closed down last week.
When asked about his innings, right-handed Boota, said: “I went out to bat only two down and went for my shots. I have been in good form this season and hence connected my shots well. I reached my double century in the last over. This is my second double century this season after my unbeaten 204 in Ajman Twenty20 tournament.
“Through cement and turf wicket tournaments I have got 21 centuries this season and two double centuries. I got those centuries from Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Ajman tournaments. I am delighted with my form and hope to catch the attention of the UAE selectors,” he said.
Thirty-two-year-old Boota hails from Sialkot in Pakistan and has been living in the UAE for over seven years. “I played first class cricket in Pakistan for Sialkot team along with Test players Shoaib Malek, Ejaz Ahmad and Abdul Rehman. Before coming here, I scored a lot of runs starting from playing for Sialkot Under-19 team. My highest score is 234 that I scored in Pakistan’s domestic cricket for Falcon Cricket Club in Sialkot,” said Boota, who won the best batsman award in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) last season.
UBL had got off to a bad start against Red Flower – losing both their openers for no score. Boota and Babar Hussain literally built up the innings from scratch. Hussain played the perfect second fiddle to hit a sedate 56 off 101 deliveries with three fours and a six. They put on a 204-run partnership for the third wicket to ensure a whopping total of 325 for 6 in 50 overs.
Red Flower briefly put up a fight with Ateeq Rahman scoring 47 and Vipin Venu hitting 45. However, Umar Farooq’s five wickets for 55 derailed their innings and they were eventually bowled out for 149 in 32.5 overs.
Brief scores: UBL bt Red Flower Tourism by 176 runs. UBL: 325 for 6 in 50 overs (Babar Hussain 56, Mohammad Boota 200, Mohammad Shakir 34; Mati Ullah 4 for 55). Red Flower Tourism: 149 in 32.5 overs (Waqas Ahmad 24, Ateeq Ur Rahman 47, Vipin Venu 45; Umar Farooq 5 for 45, Mohammad Naveed 2 for 21). Man of the match: Mohammad Boota
