Karwan Cricket Club emerged Cup final champions riding on Abuzar Tariq’s knock of 68 runs off 26 balls with six boundaries and five sixes. This invaluable knock helped Karwan Cricket Club race past Seven Districts’ total of 141 for 5 in 10 overs and win the match by seven wickets with one over to spare. For Seven Districts, Raees Ahmad had hit 59 runs, but his knock went in vain.
In the plate final, UAE Champions emerged champions beating Nadim Cricket Club by five wickets with four balls to spare. Noman Ali Khan’s knock of 49 runs off 21 balls had six boundaries and three sixes. Nadim Cricket Club were restricted to 102 for 6 and UAE Champions batted with determination. In the end, Banty Nandy’s unconquered 24 took their team to the target.
Abuzar Tariq’s half century in Karwan Cricket Club Cup final win
Seven Districts won the toss and elected to bat in the Cup final. Their openers Muhammad Irfan and Raees Ahmad put on 34 runs in 2.1 overs before Irfan got clean bowled to Sheraz Ahmed Piya for 21. Raees Ahmad and Junaid Khan Afrifi carried the score to 65 in 4.3 overs before Junaid Khan Afrifi got out to Zeeshan Ahmed for 10. At the same score, Muhammad Moshin fell to Zeeshan Ahmed for a duck.
Abdul Ghaffar and Raees Ahmad added 57 runs for the fourth wicket and steered the total past the 100-run mark. At the score of 122, Abdul Ghaffar got clean bowled to Sheraz Ahmed Piya for 24. Twelve runs after, Raees Ahmed too fell for 59. His knock off 25 balls had five boundaries and five sixes. Almas Ayub (8n.o) and Muhammad Saghir Khan (3n.o) took the score 141 for 5 in 10 overs.
The total was a challenging one but not big enough to stop the strong Karwan Cricket Club’s batting line up. Openers Qamar Awan and Abuzar Tariq set the base for the chase through a fine 114 runs opening partnership in 6.2 overs. Qamar Awan got out for 44 that was scored off just 15 balls with one boundary and six sixes. He fell caught by Muhammad Saghir Khan off Almas Ayub.
One-drop Ameer Hamza carried forward the momentum providing support to Abuzar Tariq to take the score to 131 in 7.3 overs. Hamza got clean bowled to Vikum Sanjay Banadara for 15. One run later, Abuzar Tariq’s fine knock too came to and end when he fell to Vikum Sanjay Banadara for 68.
Karwan Cricket Club needed another 10 runs to win after Abuzar’s departure. Muhammad Afzal rose to the challenge and together with Kashif they took their team to the target and title triumph. The end of the tournament was done in style. Afzal hit Muhammad Saghir Khan’s fifth ball of the ninth over for a boundary to deep cover and the next delivery was hit for a six to the third man region. Afzal remained unbeaten on 12 with Kashif unbeaten on 3.
Karwan Cricket Club thus won the match by seven wickets with one over to spare. This was followed by Karwan Cricket Club’s victory celebration that was attended by Nasir Akram, former Secretary General of Emirates Cricket Board and Executive Council Member of Sharjah Cricket, Mazhar Khan General Manager Sharjah Cricket, and match referee Tehseen Javed.
Brief scores:
Karwan Cricket Club bt Seven Districts by 7 wkts. Seven Districts 141 for 5 in 10 overs (Muhammad Irfan 21, Raees Ahmad 59, Abdul Ghaffar 24, Sheraz Ahmed Piya 2 for 17, Zeeshan Ahmed 2 for 11) Karwan Cricket Club 147 for 3 in 9 overs (Abuzar Tariq 68, Qamar Awan 44, Vikum Sanjay Banadara 2 for 25)
Player of the Match: Abuzar Tariq.
Player of the tournament : Abuzar Tariq – Karwan CC
Best Batter of the tournament : Usman Khan – Future Mattress
Best Bowler of the tournament : Zeeshan Ahmed- Karwan CC
Noman Ali Khan carries UAE Champions to victory in the Plate final
The Plate final clash between Nadim Cricket Club and UAE champions was a well-fought last over finish. Nadim Cricket Club won the toss and elected to bat. Their opener Waqas Ahmad got out in the second over caught behind by wicketkeeper Haroon Altaf off Muhmmad Usman for 2. One-drop Abdul Rehman too departed quickly after being trapped leg before by Wajahat Rasool for 3. When opener Altaf Commando got out to Wajahat Rasool for 17, Nadim Cricket Club were struggling with score reading 26 for 3 in three overs.
Muhamad Rehan Shah and skipper Nadim took the score to 45 when Shah got out to Manish Chauhan for 8. Wickets continued to fall with Zahid Ameer getting out to Muhammad Umer for 17. Irshad Hussain chipped with 22 runs, but he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Haroon Altaf off Rehan Khan to the fifth ball of the last over. Nadim remained unbeaten with 24 but his club could muster only 102 for 6 in 10 overs.
Chasing the total, UAE Champions did not get off to a smooth start. At the score of 20, two wickets fell. The first to go was opener Abdul Manan to Irshad Hussain for 2. One-drop Haroon Altaf too got clean bowled by Irshad Hussain for a duck. Wajahat Rasool and opener Noman Ali Khan then took the score to 40 in 3.3 overs before Rasool got out to Haroon Arif for 8.
Their consistent performer Rehan Khan chipped in with 11 runs to carry the score to 66, but he fell to Altaf Commando. Noman Ali Khan got out to Muhamad Rehan Shah after hitting a valuable 49 runs at the score of 83 in 7.3 overs. Despite the pressure towards the end, Banty Nandy and Iqrar batted intelligently. Nandy remained unbeaten on 24 while Iqrar was unbeaten on 10 and they ensured a five wicket win with four balls to spare.
Brief scores: (Plate final):
UAE Champions bt Nadim Cricket Club by 5 wkts. Nadim Cricket Clubn 102 for 6 in 10 overs (Nadim 24n.o, Irshad Hussain 22, Wajahat Rasool 2 for 12) UAE Champions 106 for 5 in 9.2 overs (Noman Ali Khan 49, Banty Nandy 24n.o, Irshad Hussain 2 for 8)