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Brilliant ECB Blues team stun Fly Emirates

SHARJAH — Emirates Cricket Board Blues pulled off a major upset, defeating Fly Emirates by eight wickets in the 36th Bukhatir League A Division tournament, organised by the Sharjah Cricket Council, at the Sharjah stadium, a press release said.

In another match, defending champions New Medical Centre (NMC) opened their campaign in the longest-running tournament in the UAE with a comfortable six-wicket victory over Emirates Islamic Bank.

It was ECB Blues who held the centre-stage with an inspired all-round performance. With Mohammed Tauqir, the former captain of the UAE team, Owais Ali and Haroon snaring two wickets each, ECB Blues did well to bowl out Fly Emirates for a modest 154 in 37 overs.

Nigel Fernandez (43 off 65 balls), Mohammed Khan (35 off 41 balls) and Rizwan Khan (23 off 31 balls) were the only three Fly Emirates batsmen who could offer some worthwhile resistance to a spot-on ECB Blues attack.

ECB Blues, a team which consist of home-grown talent, knocked up the required runs without any fuss in just 24.3 overs. Sakib led a stunning batting charge against the Fly Emirates bowlers, hammering 89 not out off 78 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.

He was well assisted by Haroon who compiled his 51 off 59 balls with two fours and one six to help his side a well-deserved victory in the end.

In the other match, NMC held sway in major part of the game against Emirates Islamic Bank. Spearheaded by a five-wicket haul from Sanjeewa Daas, NMC bowled out Emirates Islamic Bank for 220 in the 50^th over despite half-centuries by Faizan Asif and Naeem Khan.

Faizan made his 50 off 32 balls with six fours and three sixes while Naeed needed 83 balls to post his 50 which included two fours and one six.

NMC, in reply, built their reply a solid unbeaten knock of 90 by Asim to race to the victory target in 39 overs. Asim cracked five fours and one six during his 115-ball stay at the crease. Indika Sampath (55 off 40 balls) and Ahsan Ali (43) further added to the woes of a struggling Emirates Islamic Bank attack with some entertaining batting.

Brief scores:

NMC beat Emirates Islamic Bank by six wickets: Emirates Islamic Bank 220 all out in 49.3 overs (Faizan Asif 50, Naeem Khan 50, Kashif Ahmed 26, Asim Kaleem 25; Sanjeewa Dass 5-38, Manula Guruge 2-53) NMC 221 for four in 39 overs (Asim Ijaz 90 not out, Indika Sampath 55, Ahsan Ali 43; Shoiab Sarwar 2-43). Man of the match: Sanjeewa Daas of NMC. Umpires: Fidel Jaary and Hassan Javed.

ECB Blues beat Fly Emirates by eight wickets: Fly Emirates 154 all out in 37 overs (Nigel Fernandez 43, Mohammed Iqbal 35, Rizwan Khan 23; Mohammed Tauqir 2-19, Owais Ali 2-11, Haroon 2-12) ECB Blues 155 for two in 24.3 overs (Sakib 89 not out, Haroon 51). Man of the match: Sakib of ECB Blues. Umpires: Arshad Ansari and Iftikhar Ali.