Dubai: Two budding cricketers — 13-year-olds Nelukshan De Silva and Ashley Lobo from Desert Cubs Cricket Academy (DCCA) — registered an unbeaten first-wicket partnership of 274 runs off just 20 overs against Elite Cricket Academy (ECT) in the Nissan Gulf Cup tournament played at the Delhi Private School cricket ground.
Left-handed De Silva carried his form from the Under-15 Cricket for Care tournament, where he got his maiden century, to hit an unbeaten 158 in just 78 balls, studded with eight sixes and 16 boundaries.
Right-handed Lobo reached his ton with 12 boundaries and four sixes off just 54 balls to remain unbeaten on 101.
Praise from coach
Speaking to Gulf News, Presley Polonnowita, head coach of the Desert Cubs, said: "Both these batsmen are in brilliant form. De Silva has piled up 239 runs from five innings in this tournament while Lobo has scored 261 runs. Lobo was the best batsman in the recent junior four nation tournament and has hit many 50s and is among the probables for the UAE Under-16 team. De Silva is an all-rounder who bowls good left arm spin too."
Faced with a huge score, ECT could muster only 135 for seven wickets in their allotted overs.
"It is a proud moment for us as eight Desert Cubs players are in the final 25 for the UAE U-16 cricket team to play in the Asia Cup in Thailand," said Polonnowita.
Deserts Cubs Academy recently finished runners-up in the Nissan Gulf Cup Under-17 tournament, giving a tough fight to English county cricket club Durham. In an earlier round match they even beat Durham by 18 runs.
Scores
DCCA 274 for no loss in 20 overs (Nelukshan De Silva 158 not out, Ashley Lobo 101 not out). ECT 135 for 7 in 20 overs ( Alister 41, Jacob 30, Ramal Perera 2 for 8) .