Haider hits ton as Afridi CC win

UMM AL QUWAIN — Saqlain Haider hit an unbeaten century to help Afridi Cricket Club win the Third Umm Al Quwain Premier T-20 League which concluded recently, a press release said. 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. Haider hit a 55-ball 106 as Afridi CC beat AGE Group by 43 runs. Batting first after winning the toss, Afridi CC put on 235 runs for the loss of four wickets and later had their rivals all out for 192 in 16.5 overs.

Published: Sun 26 Jun 2011, 11:07 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 6:34 PM

After Afridi CC lost their opener Rasheed Ahmed for nought, Mohammed Zahid and Haider steadied their innings sensibly. Zahid made 42 from 27 balls and hit five boundaries and one six. Haider reached the ropes 16 times as he remained unbeaten with Haji Irfan Akram who kept him company as the winning run was scored. Akram was not out on 26 made from 15 balls and belted two sixes. Shaker Bangash chipped in with 32 from 17 balls and hit two fours and as many sixes. Shahzad Mana hit one boundary for his seven runs made from five deliveries.

Sajjad Butt claimed two wickets for 51 runs while Faraz Naeem and Mohammed Shabaz picked one apiece whilst conceding 25 and 24 runs respectively. Ibrahim Khan, Mohamed Azeem, Abdul Ghafoor and Mohammed Arif were the bowlers who failed to find success.

Facing a tough task of making 11.8 runs per over, AGE Group were never able to keep pace with the required run rate as they lost wickets regularly and were all out for 192 in the 17^th over. Opener Manal Siddiqui, who made 40, and Mohammed Azeem, who scored 45, offered some resistance. Siddiqui faced 13 balls for his 40 and hit five fours and two sixes while Azeem hit five boundaries and three sixes as he faced 15 balls for his 45. The others who contributed to the losers’ innings were Faraz Naeem (20), Ghafoor Butt (19), Amjad Karim (18), Munish Sudan (13), Sajjad Butt (9) and Mohammed Shahbaz.

Naveed Salim was the most successful bowler for Afridi CC, claiming four wickets. Mohammed Zahid picked up two for 48 in his four overs, Mohammed Adnan got two for 28 in 3.5 overs and Hashmal Khan took one for 26 in his two overs. Shahzad Mana and Haji Irfan Akram failed to get any wicket. Haider was named the man of the match for his brilliant unbeaten century.

Brief scores: Afridi CC beat AGE Group by 43 runs. Afridi CC 235 for 4 (Saqlain Haider 106*, Mohammed Zahid 42, Shaker Bangash 32, Haji Irfan Akram 26*, Shahzad Mana 7; Sajjad Butt 2/51, Mohammed Shabaz 1/24, Faraz Naeem 1/25). AGE Group 192 all out in 16.5 overs (Mohammed Azeem 45, Manal Sidiqqui 40, Faraz Naeem 20, Ghafoor Butt 19, Amjad Karim 18, Munish Sudan 13, Sajjad Butt 9, Mohammed Shabhaz 4; Naveed Salim 4/39, Mohammed Zahid 2/48, Mohammed Adnan 2/28, Hashmat Khan 1/26). Man of the match: Saqlain Haider of Afridi CC. Umpires Naveed Ismail and Sohail Shabbir.