The Solanki Construction cricket team carved out a five-wicket win over Nucaf Tellicherry to emerge the new champions of the Dr Sunny Medical Centre AKCC Cricket tournament.
In the final held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Solanki restricted defending champions Tellicherry to 152 and reached the target with 32 balls to spare.
Tellicherry team, which is riding high this year after winning three tournaments, failed to lived up to expectations.
Solanki players, through a spirited display of aggressive batting and tight bowling, upset Tellicherry’s plans.
Batting first, Tellicherry got off to a whirlwind start. Their openers Yogish and Ebrahim picked 20 runs in the first over.
Sikandar, who bowled a tight length dismissed Yogish (12) and Ebrahim (21), while Lateef bowled a tight length to pick the wickets of Manoj and Thamim.
Later-order batsmen Devender (23), Shajil (20) and Shiju (22) made useful contributions, but they could not post a formidable total.
Solanki too began on a brisk note. In the first over they hit 19 runs with their openers Abdul Rahman and Umar in full flow.
Tellicherry quickly introduced left-arm spinner CTK Maqsood and he struck. Rahman (14) hit uppishly at Maqsood and Shajil, running to deep cover took a well-judged catch.
Umar (38) and Iqbal (44) went for their shots. Though Devender struck twice to remove Umar and Iqbal, Murthar (21 n.o.) and Sikandar (19 n.o.) safely led their team to the target.
Sikandar was adjudged the man of the match for his three-wicket spell and timely unbeaten knock.
The trophies were given away by Dr Sunny Kurien and Dr Ahmad Zarooni.
Summarised scores:
Solanki Construction beat Nucaf Tellicherry by 5 wickets Nucaf Tellicherry 152 in 24 overs (Ebrahim 21, Shajil 20, Devender 23, Shiju 22, Sikander 3 for 21, Latif 2 for 23) Solanki Construction 154 for 5 in 19.4 overs (Umer 38, Iqbal 44, Mukhtar 21n.o, Devender 3 for 21)
Man of the match: Sikander.
Individual awards:
Best batsman: Saddath of Solanki Construction. Best bowler: Hitesh Bhatia of Nucaf Tellicherry.
Man of the tournament : Shafaqat Ali of Tiger CC.
Best catch of the final : Manoj of Nucaf Tellicherry.
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