Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Abu Dhabi: Merryland International clinched a nine-run thriller over Abu Dhabi Indian School in the ADCB Abu Dhabi inter-school Under-14 final to clinch a trophy double for 2013/2014.
Coming off a successful campaign in the U16 tournament, the U14 side produced a superb all-round effort to get the better of the defending champions Abu Dhabi Indian School (Adis) at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket stadium.
Nasir Abdullah hit a flamboyant 49 not out of 33 deliveries and Ammad Zia, the opener, stroked a 60-ball knock 49 not out for Merryland to help their team put on 154 for two.
Abdullah smashed seven fours and a six, and with Zia playing the anchor role, they shared an 81-run partnership for the third wicket without being separated.
Merryland lost opener Huzaifah Khan (11) to an excellent catch from Ayan Ahmad at short cover off Sohail Halim when the score was 39 and Jasim Anwar (14) departed at 73, stumped by Akhilesh Ramesh off Ishmeet Singh.
Adis were given a flying start by Jonathan Figy, who stroked 41 off 33 balls. The left handed opener dispatched the first three deliveries from Abdullah to the boundary and featured in a couple of valuable partnerships.
He dominated a 49-run opening wicket stand in 33 balls for the first wicket with Sahil Hariani (11) and added a run-a-ball 44 for the second wicket with Ramesh, the top scorer for Adis, 43 from 37 deliveries.
Adis were 93 for two in 12.4 overs when Huzaifah Khan turned the course of the match, picking up two wickets from two balls.
The left arm seamer bowled a peach of a delivery that nipped in to knock out Figy’s off-stump and then dismissed the Adis captain Abhishek Prakash the very next ball, diving forward to take a brilliant return catch.
The double strike sent the panic button ringing in the Adis camp with Ramesh, Mohammad Azzan (11), and Vijay Sashank (0) running themselves out.
The inter-school cricket competitions conducted by the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council for three different age groups have seen The Cambridge High School win the U19 title three years in a row, with Merryland winning both the U16 and U14 titles.
The tournaments are sponsored by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and co-sponsored by UAE Exchange Centre.
In the U14 semi-finals, Adis were convincing 90-run winners over Sunrise English School, while Merryland International won by six wickets over The Model School at the adjoining Abu Dhabi Cricket Council’s Nursery Oval-1.
Staff Report
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