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Preston oust AUS, set up title clash with London American

DUBAI - Defending champions American University of Sharjah were knocked out in the semi-finals by Preston University in the

Maxtalent MSG Pride Cup 2010 Pan Inter-University Cricket Tournament organised by Maxtalent under the aegis of Sharjah Cricket Council.

Earlier, Middlesex University were a shade unlucky not to make it to the final as London American City College beat them by a 2- run margin in the semis.

The final will be played on November 12 at Sharjah Cricket Staduim at13.30pm.

After opting to bat first, Preston were restricted to 105 runs in 19.4 as their batsmen struggled against some accurate and tight bowling, backed up by good fielding. Spinners Harris (4-8) and Jagraj (3-13) cast a web around Preston batsmen, only Shoaib Sarwar (25) and captain Abdul Waleed Khan (21) getting a start. AUS started their reply in a disastrous manner and in the end were bowled out for 56 in 16 overs. Preston had their plan worked out in a clinical fashion, and were a more determined side, as they stopped and caught everything that came their way. Their bowlers leg-spinner Irfan (4 -14), player-of-the-match Sohaib Sarwar (3-7) and Nasir (2-9) choked the AUS batsmen with only Basit (16) offering some resistance.

Earlier in a nail-biting finish, Middlesex, chasing 129 set by LACC in their maiden run to semis, were unlucky to fall short by just 2 runs, as they were restricted to at 127 for 7 in 20 overs.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, LACC had their top three batsmen back in the pavilion with the score reading 24 for 3, Rohan Mustafa (0), Wasim Bari (7) and Imran Khan (3) being dismissed quickly. Then it was left to Nawaz (21), Abdul Rehman (15) and Umer (12) to give some respectability to the total as they posted a fighting score of 129 in 20 overs. Adnan (2-22), Billal (2-21) and Maisam (2-30) were the wicket-takers. LACC batsmen were let of the hook and also gifted 25 extra runs due to Middlesex’s sloppy fielding and shoddy catching with six catches being dropped.

After the early fall of two wickets, captain Maisam (59) and Billal (20) scored a run-a-ball 63-run partnership for the third wicket as Middlesex looked on course to victory. However, with the score reading 88, Billal fell to a brilliant piece of fielding and throw by Mustafa, and at 106 Maisam got out for a super catch by Bari off Mustafa which allowed LACC to bounce back into the game. Then Rohan bowled a deadly spell, taking four wickets for 19 runs, as Middlesex’s efforts fell short by 2 runs.

Brief scores:

London American City College beat Middlesex University. LACC 129 all out in 20 overs (Nawar 21, Abdul Rehman 15, Umer 12; Billal 2-21, Adnan 2-22, Maisam 2-30, Burhan and Anil Adnan (1 wicket each) vs Middlesex University 129-7 in 20 overs (Maisam 59, Billal 20, Kamran 20; Rohan Mustafa (4-19), Imran (1-26). Player-of-the-match: Mustafa.

Preston University beat American University of Sharjah. Preston Unviersity 105 all out in 19.4 overs (Shoaib Sarwar 25, Abdul Waleed Khan 21; Harris 4-8 , Jagraj 3-13) vs AUS 56 all out in 16 overs (Basit 16, Irfan 4-14, Sarwar 3-7, Nassir 2-9). Player-of-the-match: Sarwar.