Arabian Cricket Club lifts Sana’a Cricket Trophy – 2005 [Archives:2005/903/Sports]
December 15 2005
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Fifth Match
Fifth game was played on the 18th November; between Adnan Cricket Club and Taj Sheba XI. Taj Sheba XI won the toss and elected to bat first. The innings had a blazing start with Praveen doing the bulk of scoring. All the top order batsmen provided momentum to the innings scoring at will against Adnan bowlers. Mukul accelerated scoring in the middle order taking Naseer Khan for 36 runs in 3 overs. Innings was built around by excellent batting by Praveen (40), Prasad (48) Mukul (41) & Venkatesh (21). Target of 181 runs was set for Adnan Cricket Club to be achieved in 25 overs.
Adnan Cricket Club innings again had a shaky start with openers going out cheaply. Wickets were falling at regular intervals till Zaheer came into bat. He was trying to rebuild the innings but couldn't get any support at the other end. In the end he was stranded at the other end with 25 well scored runs. Praveen from Taj Sheba returned 4 wickets in this match and ensured Taj Sheba qualified to the finals.
Sixth Match
On the 25th November, Taj Sheba XI won the toss and elected to bat first. They had a steady start with Praveen doing the scoring and Ramu playing a second fiddle. Soon after Praveen was bowled at 14 runs and wickets started to fell at regular intervals. It was left to Salauddin to keep the score board ticking and in the end managed to score 63 runs. Taj Sheba also had bonus of 49 extras with some wayward bowling from Arabian Club bowlers. Target of 175 runs was set for Adnan Cricket Club to be achieved in 25 overs.
Arabian Cricket Club had the worst start in this tournament with 5 wickets down in the first 7 overs of the match. There were couple of controversial decisions in the middle where benefit of doubt should have been given in favor of the batsman. It was left with Tameezudin (35) to carry out some repair work but it was daunting task. Finally the innings folded at 78 runs but Arabian Cricket Club managed to get through to the finals due to earlier win in the league match.
First Semifinal
Match was played on the 30th November; Taj Sheba XI won the toss and elected to bat first. For a change they had a shaky start with both the openers getting out cheaply. Friend's bowlers were keeping ball at good length spot making it difficult for the batsmen to score runs. Right from the beginning Friends bowlers had a tight grip on the game and made breakthroughs at regular intervals. All the bowlers returned with excellent figures with Binu picking up 3 wickets while Afsar, Anthony and Salim getting 2 wickets each. Only Praveen (14) and Mukul (14) could get into double figures. Target of 87 was set for Friends Cricket Club.
Friends Cricket Club innings had a bad start with Mohammed getting out the first ball by Salauddin and Samar following him soon. In a low scoring match, Salauddin was creating havoc with his pace bowling mixed with excellent slower ones. By the end of 15th over, he had best bowling figures of the tournament. (5-13 -5). But Nabil Mustaq and Salim had other ideas; Nabil led the charge back to the Taj Sheba bowlers with his excellent hitting and was well supported by Salim (14). Nabil played an innings of his life time while scoring 41 runs and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and was duly awarded with Man of the Match award. Friends Cricket Club made it to the finals.
Second Semifinal
Second Semifinal was played on the 2nd December with Arabian Cricket Club winning the toss and elected to bat first. Innings started on a bad note with opener falling cheaply again making it obvious that Arabian Cricket Club was struggling to have solid opening. Fall of wicket brought in middle pair of Wasi Haider and Tameezudin which every body had been hoping might click. Both of them didn't disappoint the crowd and had a partnership going. Singles and doubles starting coming in freely with a occasional boundary almost each over. Arabian innings was built on dream start provided by Tameezudin (53), Wasi Haider (36), Aminuddin (25) and Amin Butt (16). Target of 181 runs was set for Pakistan XI to achieve in 25 overs.
Pakistan XI openers started with a bang hitting bowlers all round the park. Adnan (20) & Ethesham (19) were going on strongly until Waris was introduced in the attack. His medium pace bowling demolished the strong batting line-up and picked up 4 wickets in an over including hat trick. This was second hatrick of the tournament. Azam and Mustafa did try and resist for a while but couldn't last long. Arabian team management had worked out a strategy and all the bowling changes were producing results. Pakistan XI innings folded at 133 runs and Arabian Cricket Club made it into the finals, a consecutive entry into the finals. Last final was played in 1999.
Final
It was going to be an interesting battle between Arabian Cricket Club and Friends Cricket Club with both teams almost even on every aspect of the game.
Arabian Cricket Club won the toss and elected to bat first. Innings had good start with their regular opener Arshad returning back to the team. Salman (15) and Arshad provided a solid foundation to the innings. Arshad playing his first match of the tournament was going after the bowling and was severe on anything pitched out side the off stump. He had good support in the middle order from Wasi Haider (31), Aminuddin (25). Arshad produced an innings of his life time and was finally caught in the deep while trying to increase the run-rate. He made 61 well compiled runs. Target of 166 runs was set for Friends Cricket Club.
Friends Cricket Club couldn't get going as desired due to some excellent pace attack by Amin Butt and Mobin. Openers went in cheaply and soon wickets started tumbling. Friend's batsman were under pressure right from the beginning and couldn't too much against Arabian much fancied bowlers. Mohinder Singh (20), Salim (25) and Afsar (21) did try and attempt a comeback in the game till the 20th over. Finally Friends Cricket Club innings folded at 133 and Arabian Cricket Club were declared the winners of Sana'a International Cricket Trophy- 2005. Man of the Match was awarded to Arshad Bajwa of Arabian Cricket Club.
Cricket will continue in 2006 with tournament slated to start sometime in March, interested teams and sponsors are requested to contact the operating committee.
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[archive-e:903-v:14-y:2005-d:2005-12-15-p:sports]
