Saturday, May 28, 2011
Gulf News
Abu Dhabi Mohammad Azam and Mohammad Adnan bowled Al Hamad into the semi-finals of the Al Hamad Contracting Division 1 cricket tournament after a 48-run victory over Interface in the final group match at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Azam and Adnan took four wickets apiece to dismiss Interface for 159 in reply to Al Hamad’s 207 to finish behind Emirates Cricket Board Blues in Group A.
Adnan did the early damage by claiming four for 63 from eight overs and Azam ran through the tail to return with four for 18 from 6.1 overs.
Azhar Gul, the wicketkeeper, stroked a top score of 53 and shared a valuable 78-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Majid Ali, who chipped in a gritty 24 off 51 deliveries and hitting just one boundary.
Gul’s 71-ball knock contained half-a-dozen hits to the fence and helped his side cross the 200-run mark after Interface had them in a bit of a spot at 22 for three. The opener Asif Iqbal (35) and Shahzad Manna (31) were the other two to provide useful contributions to the total.
Wasim Bari, the opening bowler, did the early damage by claiming three for 44 from nine overs while Pranav Arora picked up four for 27 from 8.5 overs.
Asif Iqbal sent Arora (4) back when he held to a sharp return catch. His new ball partner Adnan grabbed four wickets to leave them tottering at 57 for five and Azam did the rest to bowl them out in under 30 overs.
Al Hamad will meet William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana, the Group B toppers in one semifinal while the ECB Blues clash with Tyger in the second semifinal.
Al Hamad: 207 all out in 37.5 overs (Azhar Gul 53, Asif Iqbal 35, Shahzad Manna 31, Pranav Arora 4-27, Wasim Bari 3-44) bt Interface 159 all out in 29.1 overs (Harish Venkatesh 36, Mohammed Azam 4-18, Mohammed Adnan 4-63).
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