UAE Exchange retain UBL Twenty20 crown

ABU DHABI - UAE Exchange defended their crown by defeating Eurocon Alubond in the final of the United Bank Limited Twenty20 Cricket Trophy at the Shaikh Zayed Stadium over the weekend. Required to get 170, UAE Exchange got home in the final over with two wickets to spare to keep their hold on the UBL T20 Trophy.

By James Jose

Published: Wed 2 Jun 2010, 12:32 AM

Last updated: Tue 21 Nov 2023, 9:54 AM

It is the fourth year that UBL was sponsoring the tournament.

Put into bat, Eurocon Alubond made 169 for the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs. Vikrant Shetty top scored with 61 from 41 balls which was studded with eight boundaries and two sixes. Pervaiz Nazir clubbed 24 from just 13 balls with the help of two sixes and a boundary, while Naeemuddin Aslam made 23 from 24 balls with a boundary and a six.

Mohammed Kashif took two wickets for 25 runs, while Manjula Guruge, UAE international Saqib Ali and Shadeep Silva took one wicket each.

In reply, Saqib Ali cracked 20 from 11 balls with two sixes and a boundary but it was Asim Ijaz who anchored the innings. Ijaz top scored with 50 from 44 balls with two boundaries. Captain Sandeep Shetty made 34 from 22 balls with three boundaries and two sixes.

Pervaiz Nazir took four wickets for 30 runs, while Nasir Aziz took three conceding 34 runs. Asim Ijaz was adjudged the Man of the Match. UAE Exchange were richer by Dh 12,000, while Eurocon Alubond had to be content with Dh 8,000.

Pervaiz Nazir of Eurocon Alubond won the Best Bowler award after taking a tournament haul of 14-221.

Asim Khurshid of William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana won the Best Batsman award. He scored 253 with the highest being 161 against AD Warriors.

Saqib Ali of UAE Exchange was adjudged the Man of the Tournament. He scored 320 runs and took 9-143.

There were 20 teams in the fray for the tournament and they were divided into four groups. There were four games per week with a total of 47 games.

Brief scores: Eurocon Alubond: 169 for 6 in 20 overs (Vikrant Shetty 61, Pervaiz Nazir 24, Naeemuddin Aslam 23, Mohammed Kashif 2-25) lost to UAE Exchange: 170 for 8 in 20 overs (Asim Ijaz 50, Sandeep Shetty 34, Saqib Ali 20, Pervaiz Nazir 4-30, Nasir Aziz 3-34) by two wickets.

Individual Awards: Best Bowler: Parvaiz Nazir of Eurocon Alubond (14-221); Best Batsman: Asim Khurshid of William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana (253; Highest: 161 against AD Warriors, Average: 63); Man of the Tournament: Saqib Ali of UAE Exchange (320 runs and 9-143).