Eurocon and CSS match ends in a thrilling tie

Sahan Nadeera produced a five-wicket haul as Eurocon Alubond CC tied against Consolidated Shipping Services (CSS) in the 18th Sharjah Ramadan Twenty20 floodlit cricket tournament for the CSS Homeward Bound Cup at the Sharjah cricket stadium on Wednesday night.

Alico Lanka Lions CC, aided by a fine knock of 41 from Oshadha Warnapura, defeated Acer Computer by 79 runs in another match.

But it was the tied match the first of the tournament which held centre stage.

Eurocon Alubond, batting first, scored 138 for eight in the allotted 20 overs. They built their innings around some useful contributions from Babar Nadeem, 39 off 31 balls with five fours and one six, Azhar Gul (26 off 30 balls), Adnan Arif (26 off 16 balls with two sixes) and Sahan Nadeera (20 off 10 balls with one four and one six).

Syed Maqsood and Kashif Ahmad took three wickets each but failed to prevent Eurocon Alubond from posting a good score.

CSS, one of the favourites, had their moments to overhaul the Eurocon Alubond score, but their premier batsmen failed to convert good starts into big innings in the face of some accurate bowling by Nadeera, who took five wickets for 34 runs. Shahji Mulk (two for 31) was the other major scorer.

Asghar Ali top-scored for CSS, slamming 38 off 23 balls with four sixes while Kashif Ahmad chipped in with 36 off 42 balls with one four. Sayed Maqsood (21 off 23 balls) and Naeemullah (19 off 10 balls with one four and one six) were the other major scorers.

In the other match, Alico Lanka Lions CC comfortably kept up their dominance over Acer Computer. Batting first, Lanka Lions made 156 before being bowled out in 18.1 overs. Oshadha Warnapura led the batting charge with 41 off 29 balls with four fours and one six.

Anil was the most successful Acer Computer bowler, taking three wickets for 18 runs.

Acer Computer, in reply, were restricted to 77 for seven. In the Dulsco Ramadan Cricket tournament being held at Dubai Cricket Council, Mutthu of Transgulf produced a spell of 4 for 21 to restrict Amex to 132 runs in 22 overs and beat them by 8 wickets.

In another match Dnata continued their excellent performance and defeated Millennium Metals by 16 runs. Ivan hit a fine 88 for Dnata to help them score 198 for 6. Through a spell of 4 for 28, Tim Anderson restricted Millennium Metals to 182.

Brief scores

Sharjah Ramadan Cup: Alico Lanka Lions CC beat Acer Computer by 79 runs:
Lanka Lions 156 in 18.1 overs (Oshadha Warnapura 41, Chandana Rajapakse 23, Eranga Jayasekhara 23; Anil 3-18, Mubeen Ghawte 2 for 29, Rakesh 2 for 26, Graham Barum 2 for 27) Acer Computer 77 for 7 (Rakesh 21 not out).
Man of the match: Oshadha Warnapura.

CSS vs Eurocon Alubond CC match ends in a tie: Eurocon Alubond CC 138 for 8 (Babar Nadeem 39, Azhar Gul 26, Adnan Arif 26, Sahan Nadeera 20; Syed Maqsood 3 for 20, Kashif Ahmad 3 for 24) CSS 138 for 8 (Asghar Ali 38, Kashif Ahmad 36, Syed Maqsood 21, Naeemullah 19; Sahan Nadeera 5 for 34, Shahji Mulk 2 for 31) Man of the match: Sahan Nadeera.

Dubai Ramadan Cup: Transgulf beat Amex by 8 wickets . Amex 132 for 8 in 22 overs (Imran 26, Prasana 28, Ashish 38, Mutthu 4 for 21, Nihal 2 for 27) Transgulf 137 for 2 in 15 overs (Bimal 42, Kazim 35, Esmail 42.)
Man of the Match: Mutthu.

Dnata beat Millennium Metals by 16 runs. Dnata 198 for 6 in 25 overs (Ivan 88, Iqbal 60, Faisal 2 for 29) Millennium Metals 182 all out in 23.5 overs (Naveen 35, Prasanna 25, Ravi 25, Tim 4 for 28, Amjad 2 for 30)
Man of the Match: Ivan.