UAE Nationals clinch thriller for title

SHARJAH — UAE Nationals showed a great strength of character when they defeated an equally determined Oman Nationals side in the final to win the Gulf Cup, organised by the Sharjah Cricket Council, at the Sharjah stadium on Sunday night.

Published: Wed 2 Feb 2011, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 7:24 AM

The final, which had all the ingredients of a thriller, ended in a tie after both teams scored an identical 138 in 20 overs, forcing the issue into Super Overs to decide the winners. The drama continued with both teams scoring 19 each in the first eliminator over, but the home team held on to their nerves to settle the score in the second eliminator over, smashing 15 runs against just seven by the Oman Nationals.

With UAE and Oman Nationals matching skills in each department of the game, their healthy rivalry augers well for the game. And their positive approach to the game highlighted the tournament. UAE Nationals, who lost to Oman in a league match, were determined to change the script when it mattered most. Batting first, they may have fell short of their intended target, but their bowlers rose to the occasion, preventing the Omani team that vital one run they needed to overhaul the UAE team’s score.

Fahad Al Hashmi, who was later named man-of-the-final and the best batsman of the tournament, scored a fine 36 off 30 balls with one four and two sixes while Marwan Khamis (27 off 25 balls with three fours), Mohammed Tauqir (18 off 12 balls with two fours and one six) and Salman Farooq (16 off 17 balls) made useful contributions to give their bowlers a decent score to defend.

Mohammed Ishaq Khalid Moosa and Mohammed Rafiq bowled well for the Omani side, taking two wickets each.

Oman Nationals, in reply, had their chances, but they failed to provide the finishing touch despite a brilliant effort by Yousuf Rahim, who remained not out on 51 off 34 balls which included four fours and three sixes. Sharif Fainook (28 off 20 balls) and Mohammed Rafiq (10 off 11 balls) were the other main scorers.

For UAE Nationals, Salman Farooq and Fahad Al Hashimi snared three wickets each to suffocate Oman Nationals’ hopes of achieving what, at one stage, looked a reachable target.

The Oman team, however, had some consolation when Khalid Moosa was adjudged Player-of-the-Tournament for his all-round performance (239 runs and seven wickets) during the tournament.