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Afridi CC beat Gyan Steel for UAQ T20 title

UMM AL QUWAIN - Afridi CC defeated Gyan Steel by five wickets to win the Third UAQ Municipality Premier T-20 League which concluded at Umm Al Quwain recently.

This victory was Afridi CC’s fourth win in the final at Umm Al Quwain.

Earlier Afridi CC won the UAQ Premier T-20 League defeting AGE Group, UAQ T-20 League getting the better of Al Futtaim Motors, Toyota and the Fourth Invitational League by getting past Eurocon Alubond.

The tournament, held under the supervision of the Emirates Cricket Board, and played under the auspices of the Ajman Cricket Council, was organised under the leadership of Mushtaq Ahmed Chowdhary.

Electing to bat first on calling the coin correctly, Gyan Steel were all out for 161 in 18.4 overs while Afridi CC reached the target in 15.4 overs.

Gyan Steel started their innings like blazing fire with their opener Shakoor blasting 42 from 18 deliveries. He belted three massive sixes and four fours but departed as he attempted a lofty hit. With Shakoor’s departure the fire which blazed in Gyan Steel’s innings appeared to be watered by Afridi CC bowlers, specially Hashmat Khan who was the cynosure of all eyes during the final.

Wickets then fell at regular intervals as Gyan Steel batsman could not find the right rhythm with their strikes.

Iqbal Khan added 27 while Ansar Butt hit 18 runs and Fahad Usman contributed 18. Bakhtiya Paliker made 14 as Gyan Steel failed to provide their steel protection to their innings struggling against the rival bowlers and were bundled 
out for 161 with eight balls remaining.

Hashmat Khan was the main wrecker of Gyan Steel fortress finding four chinks in their armour of steel. His four scalps cost him 20 runs. Naveed Saleem bagged three wickets whilst conceding 46 runs. Haji Irfan Akram picked up two for 18 and Mohammed Adnan one for 21 as Afridi CC did not allow their rivals to post a challenging total to chase.

Chasing a relative easy target, Afridi CC’s top order fumbled a bit at their start of their reply. Although they lost some early wickets, Haji Irfan Akram and Abdul Shakoor carried them through without separating. While Akram hit an unbeaten 42 which included four fours and three sixes Shakoor belted one six and three fours for his 32 not out.

Zohain Khan claimed two wickets for 27 runs for the losers. Amir Jaffar, Amjad Gujjar and Arsalam Shah picked up one each whilst conceding 29, 32 and 41 runs respectively for Gyan Steel.

Hasmat Khan was named the man of the final for his four-wicket haul. The final was official by umpires Kishore Gaire and Shahid Butt.

Brief scores: Afridi CC beat Gyan Steel by five wickets. Gyan Steel 161 all out in 18.4 overs (Shakoor 42, Iqbal Khan 27, Ansar Butt 18, Fahad Usman 17, Bakhtiyar Paliker 14; Hashmat Khan 4-20, Naveed Saleem 3-46, Haji Irfan Akram 2-18, Mohammed Adnan 1-21). Afridi CC 166 for 5 in 15.4 overs (Haji Irfan Akram 42*, Abdul Shakoor 32*; Zohaib Khan 2-27, Amir Jaffar 1-29, Amjad Gujjar 1-32, Arsalam Shah 1-41). Man of the final: Hashmat Khan of Afridi CC. Umpires: Kishore Gaire, Shahid Butt.