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Khurshid propels Gymkhana

ABU DHABI - Asim Khurshid’s all-round performance for William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana overshadowed Niresh Fernando’s century for New Medical Centre in the Al Hamad Contracting division-one tournament at the Zayed stadium.

Khurshid took four for 81 from 9.3 overs and hit just over a run-a-ball 60 to steer Abu Dhabi Gymkhana to a facile seven-wicket win and qualification to the semifinals.

He took the first three wickets to fall and later picked up the prized wicket of Fernando to dismiss NMC for 259. Khurshid then shared a 116-run partnership for the second wicket with Haroon Iftikhar to set the platform for his team to notch up their fourth win in as many games.

Khurshid hit five fours and Iftikhar’s run-a-ball knock contained 14 hits to the fence. Mohammed Shafiq hit a little cameo 37 off 18 deliveries (6 fours and 1 six) to see them through with more than eight overs to spare.

Fernando had earlier anchored the NMC inning. The Sri Lankan opener hit 13 fours and a couple of sixes, and shared a 94-run stand for the fourth wicket with compatriot Gayan Silva, who chipped in with a valuable 44 off 76 deliveries, hitting five fours.

It was NMC’s first defeat in two games, and they were without Saqib Ali and Shadeep Silva, both on national duty at the ICC World Cricket League division-two in Dubai which the UAE won by defeating Namibia in the final.

Brief scores: William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 262 for 3 in 41.4 overs (Haroon Iftikhar 98, Asim Khurshid 60, Mohammed Shafiq 37 not out) bt New Medical Centre 259 all out in 49.5 overs (Niresh Fernando 124, Gayan Silva 44, Kashif Ijaz 25, Asim Khurshid 4-81, Mohammed Rehan 2-52).

james@khaleejtimes.com