GI and DHL to clash in SCL final

Riding on the all-round performance of Buta Singh Gehri, who starred with the bat and ball, Gulf International (GI) moved into the final of the Sharjah Corporate League (SCL).

The all-rounder struck an unbeaten 50 to guide GI to a mammoth 208 for 3 in 20 overs and later scalped three wickets for 21 miserly runs to restrict Omega Insurance (OI) to 157 for 7 in 20 overs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

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

Gulf International were off to a flying start. Although Mujahid Shonay scored only 11 runs, he and Babar Ismail took them to 21 from two overs.

Babar and Tharaka Dhananjaya then added 62 runs for the second wicket before Babar was bowled by Shane Alam for 45 (1x6, 6x4) and Tharaka fell to Abhishek Chaturvedi for 26 (2x6, 1x4).

Gulf International were still nicely placed on 126 for 3 from13.2 overs when prolific scorer Sapan Deep and inform batsman Gehri rubbed more salt into the wounds of Omega Insurance. Together they compiled 82 runs from the remaining 40 balls without being separated.

Sapan Deep stroked his way to an unbeaten 60 from 26 balls which included 6 sixes and two fours. Buta Singh complemented his teammate well with 50 from 24 balls (4x6, 3x4).

Rizwan KS (51 not out), Muhammad Ikram Juara (36) and Shane Alam (30) tried to keep Omega Insurance in the chase but the day belonged to Man of the Match Buta Singh Gehri (3-21).

In the other semi final DHL romped to a six-wicket win over Dnata. Krishna Chandran (73) and Naeem Khan (43 retired hurt) gave Dnata a formidable total of 186 despite some decent bowling from Suneth Sampat (2-40), Waqas Alvi (2-35) and Ali Mubarik (2-32).

But Rizwan Hussain (48), Khurram Sajjad (41) and Rahman Gul (34) helped DHL cross that target in 19.3 overs with six wickets in the kitty.

Dnata bowlers never seemed to pose a serious threat as DHL batsmen made a light work of the target with a sublime performance.

Their charge was led by man of the match Hussain. He was well supported by Sajjad and Gul.

Though Dnata did make some in-roads through their bowlers but could not stop the on-fire batsmen of DHL.

Earlier, Dnata routed Oman Insurance by 83 runs and Omega Insurance trounced Brothers Gas by 41 runs in the quarter-finals.

Dnata were rocked early after losing their top three batsmen with the score on 27. But Man of the Match Bilal Cheema and Krishna Chandran added 49 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the rocking boat.

Chandran contributed 27 with two fours but after he departed Usman Mushtaq and Bilal upped the scoring with a 91 run partnership.