Nadeem and Tariq bowl Belhasa into quarterfinals

Belhasa Driving Centre drove past Transgulf to enter the quarterfinals of the CSS Homeward Bound Sharjah Ramadan Cricket tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Belhasa, despite an unimpressive batting display, bowled well to restrict Transgulf. Electing to bat, Belhasa got off to a bad start. Transgulf's pacer Somkanth bowled opener Mukhtar for a duck. Opener Abdul Rehman, too, lasted only six balls before being bowled by Muthu.

Two down for six, Fayaz kept his head down and kept the scoreboard moving with Saleem Khan. The pair put on 41 runs for the third wicket before both Khan (29) and Fayaz (13) were adjudged leg before to Vinith and Somkanth respectively.

Nadeem (22), Zahid (16) and Shafaqat (22) helped Belhasa swell their total. Belhasa recorded 168 in 30 overs and could have totalled a bigger score but for Ujwal, who picked three for 30 from his six overs.

Tansgulf, unlike Belhasa got off to a fine start. Their openers Abdul Rehman (38) and Ismail (35) were in brilliant form. Ismail was aggressive and even hit two sixes during his innings. The pair put on 63 runs in just 10 overs.

Needing 109 runs from the remaining 20 overs, Transgulf looked like sailing towards an easy victory.

At 69, Nadeem trapped the danger man Ismail leg before and also the next man Ujwal for a duck. Two-down Muthu, too, lasted only two balls before becoming Nadeem's third victim. Vineet tried hard but fell to Nadeem for 20. Meanwhile, Tariq ran wiped off the tail in a flash to give Belhasa a 32-run victory.

Al Kabeer, too, entered the quarterfinals through a 38-run win over Rapco Konkan. Al Kabeer piled up an impressive 186 for six in 30 overs through Harish Khan's fine 41.

Imran Zafar chipped in with a defiant 29 while Sajjad Butt and Gulam hit unbeaten knocks of 27 and 37 respectively.

Rapco batsmen crashed before the tight bowling of Raheel Khan, Sajjad Butt and Imtiaz Hussain. Imran hit a fighting 83 (88b, 4x4, 2x6), but could not help his team reach the target.

Summarised scores
Belhasa Driving Centre 168 for 8 in 30 overs (Saleem 29, Somkanth 2 for 34, Ujwal 3 for 30) bt Transgulf 136 in 27.2 overs (Kazim 38, Ismail 35, Tariq 4 for 26, Nadeem 4 for 25, Saleem 2 for 19).
Man of the match: Nadeem

Al Kabeer 186 for 6 in 30 overs (Imran Zafar 29, Haris Khan 41, Sajjad Butt 27n.o, Gulam 37n.o, Shahid 2 for 45) bt Rapco Konkan 148 in 28.4 overs (Imran 83, Sajjad Butt 2 for 23, Raheel Khan 3 for 25, Imtiaz Hussain 2 for 30).
Man of the match: Sajjad Butt.