Afridi and Shadab shine in DHL victory

SHARJAH:  Sagheer Afridi and Asif Shadab shared the man of the match award after brilliant performances with the bat and ball in DHL’s big win over Emirate Islamic Bank in the Sharjah Corporate League at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The tournament is being held under the auspices of the Sharjah Cricket Council.

Afridi cracked a scintillating ton (107 from 65 balls, 5x6, 6x4) in taking DHL to 195 for 6 from 20 overs and later Shadab grabbed five wickets for 17 runs to bowl out Emirates Islamic Bank for a paltry 126 after Waqas Ali had done the damage by removing both the openers, including Adil Lanker who was their top scorer with 55.

This was DHL’s second big win after they trounced Hamriya Free Zone Authority by 87 runs. Emirates Islamic Bank lost their second straight match after also losing to Fly Emirates.

In another match Renjith Mani carried his bat through the 20 overs to come up with a cracking unbeaten 109 in Jotun Paints 94 run win over Ramada Hotel.

Mani’s 109 came off 64 balls and was studded with three sixes and a dozen fours. Vishnu Ramesh chipped in with 37 and Bilal Murtaza remained not out  on 22 as Jotun posted 194 for 3.

Ramada struggled against Rabindra Singh (3-9) and Previn Achuthan (2-17) and were reduced to 100 for 9.

Earlier, Shamsher Abdulla bagged five wickets including the first hat-trick of the tournament but his effort went in vain after Hamriya Free Zone Authority (HFZA) were outplayed by DHL at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Put into bat Sajid Khalil and Afridi upped the ante for DHL from the word go. In 6.1 overs they took DHL to 95 before Sajid lost his wicket for 27 (14b, 2x6, 3x4).

That didn’t stop Sagheer from playing aggressively during his 74 which came off only 32 balls and consisted seven sixes and six fours.

There was no respite for the HFZA bowlers after Sagheer departed as Abdullah Qayyum (41, 24b, 3x6, 2x4) and Rahman Gul (42, 18b, 4x6, 2x4) continued to plunder runs at will. And with Khurram Sajjad playing a cameo 29 not out from 15 balls DHL posted a formidable 252 for 8.

In reply HFZA were struggling at 98 for 7 until Shamsuddin Odiparakodi ‘s 77 (48b, 6x6, 5x4) gave the total some respectability. But he didn’t receive enough support and HFZA were restricted to 168 for 8.

Adil Lanker’s 91 (55b, 7x6, 5x4) helped Emirates Islamic Bank to 160 for 9 but Fly Emirates achieved those runs through Senthil Prabhu (62, 47b, 1x6, 8x4) and Abdul Rehman (62 not out, 40b, 4x6, 3x4) in 17.1 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Brief scores

Jotun Paints beat Ramada Hotel by 94 runs

Jotun Paints 194 for 3 in 20 overs (Renjith Mani 109 n.o., Vishnu Ramesh 37, Bilal Murtaza 22) Ramada Hotel 100 for 9 in 20 overs (Syed Ali 29; Rabindra  Singh 3-9, Previn Achuthan 2-17). Man of the match: Renjith Mani.

DHL beat Emirates Islamic Bank by 69 runs

DHL 195 for 6 in 20 overs (Sagheer Afridi 107, Rahman Gul 35; Salik Khan Anis 2-42) Emirates Islamic Bank 126 all out in 18.2 overs (Adil Lanker 55,  Asif Shadab 5-17, Rahman Gul 2-32, Waqas Alvi 2-34). Man of the match: Sagheer Afridi and Asif Shadab.