CSS sail past Air India to extend winning streak

Consolidated Shipping Services (CSS) sailed past Air India in the Dulsco Ramadan Floodlit tournament at the Dubai Cricket Council ground.

CSS made 207 for seven in 35 overs and restricted the Airmen to 123 in 28.2 overs.

Air India bowled well and picked four early wickets for 61 runs, but Syed Maqsood (32) and Sreeram put on 62 runs for the fifth-wicket in 10 overs. Mohammed Naseem with a quick 46 off 29 balls further improved the score.

Chasing the big total, Air India lost opener Sumeet Keshavan for a duck. Bhaktiar Palekar (29) and Jaideep Mathur (28) withstood the excellent bowling attack.

Air India reached the 100-run mark in the 23rd over, but Aqeel Latif (three for 23) struck repeatedly to hasten the end. In a B division match, Mehfil got the better of Desert Roofing by 59 runs.

Electing to bat, Mehfil made 188 for seven in 25 overs. They lost both the opener for 26, but one-drop Khurram Mir 59 (32b, 9x4, 1x6) and Salim Saeed (26) put on 70 runs for the third wicket. Four down batsman Mashood chipped in with 28 to ensure a challenging total.

Desert Roofing began badly with Mashood bowling a good line and length. He removed opener Irfan Dar and one-drop Akbar Rana for one run each and Ansar Butt for a duck.

Omair Alam (23) tried to steady the innings with opener John Burger, who began stroking very well. The pair put on 50 runs for the fourth wicket before Alam was stumped off Khurram Mir.

Burger went for his shots and remained unbeaten on 53, but that was not enough to steer his team to victory.

Summarised scores:
CSS 207 for 7 in 35 overs (Mohammad Rowhman 21, Syed Maqsood 32, Sreeram 58, Mohammed Naseem 46, Shahab Khan 2 for 38, Mukesh Thanki 2 for 32) bt Air India 123 in 28.2 overs (B. Palekar, Jaideep Mathur 28, Rizwan Lateef 2 for 19, Kashif Ahmed 2 for 23, Aqeel Latif 3 for 23).
Man of the match: Mohammed Naseem.

Mehfil XI 188 for 7 in 25 overs (Khurram Mir 59, Salim Saeed 26, Mashood 28, Akbar Rana 2 for 25, Amir Shahzad 2 for 42) bt Desert Roofing 129 for 5 in 25 overs (John Burger 53n.o, Omair Alam 23, Mashood 3 for 21).
Man of the match: Khurram Mir.

Today's fixture:
8pm: NMC vs CSS.