Westminster YTCA win title

DUBAI - Reuben Abraham’s sensational spell of three wickets assisted by Sairaj Venkat’s two wickets helped Westminster YTCA post a thrilling four-run win over fancied Durham County Cricket Club in the under-17 final of the Nissan Cup, organised by the Young Talents Cricket Academy under the auspices of the Dubai Cricket Council.

Published: Sat 15 Jan 2011, 12:13 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 6:30 PM

The final played at the Sharjah Stadium, was expected to be a keen affair after both teams had made the cut in a three-way battle which had to be decided on the run-rate.

Desert Cubs, the third team who shared equal points with Durham and Westminster, were unlucky despite their one wicket win over the visitors.

Durham, who had began their UAE tour with fluent opening wins, some how failed to raise their game when it mattered the most.

After having done all the hard work of restricting Westminster YTCA to a paltry 105, one would have expected the visitors to wrap up the final match in grand fashion in the allotted 30 overs.

However, that was not to be as Westminster YTCA, spearheaded by Reuben’s excellent spell, turned the match despite a fine opening partnership of 38-runs between Riece Carr and Sean Tindale.

Riece scored 22 off 30 deliveries including four boundaries while Sean was sedate in scoring 19 runs off 43 balls.

Later, Jack Burnaham hit a defiant knock of 18 to keep Durham well on track.

But the introduction of Reuben changed the complexion of the match. Reuben snared three crucial middle-order wickets at the expense of just 14 runs in his six-over spell as the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals.

Reuben was well supported by Sairaj Venkat from the other end as the duo bowled in tandem to seal Durham’s fate by restricting them to 101 in 26.5 overs.

Sairaj had figures of two wickets for 18 runs.

Earlier, Westminster, opting to bat first, failed to cash in on the fine start given by Adnan Kamil (22) and Aditya Mavuru (38).

Abhiraj Khatwani also contributed with a valuable knock of 17 runs that helped Westminster reach a fighting total of 105 in 29.5 overs.

Riece Carr (3 for 8) and Jack Hardy (3 for 17) were Durham’s top bowlers while Sameet Brar took two for 17.

SCORES

Nissan Gulf Cup Under 17 final:

Westminster YTCA beat Durham CC by 4 runs.

Westminster YTCA 105 all out in 29.5 overs (Adnan Kamil 22, Aditya Mavuru 38, Abhiraj Khatwani 17; Sameet Brar 2/15, Jack Hardy 3/17).

Durham CC 101 all out in 26.5 overs (Riece Carr 22, Sean Tindale 19, Jack Burnham 18, Jack McBeth 13 not out; Reuben Abraham 3/14, Sairaj Venkat 2/18). Man of the Match: Reuben Abraham of Westminster YTCA.

CHALLENGER CUP:

Szabist University of Dubai bt American College of Dubai by 9 wkts.

American College 106 for 9 in 20 overs (Yousuf Khan 23, Talha Fancy 21; Farhad Rafaie 4/21, Imran Tufail 2/16, Ahmed Butt 2/23). Szabist: 107 for 1 in 14.1 overs (Sufian Javed 19, Osama Salik 42 not out, Syed Abbas 29 not out).

Canadian University of Dubai bt American University of Dubai by 44 runs.

Canadian University 155 for 7 in 20 overs (Umair Khan 42, Jackson Stephan 41, Ronak Aswaney 23; Ashish Bandari 3/17). American University 111 all out in 18.1 overs (Ashish Bandari 23, Nikhil Bahirwani 23; Ronak Aswaney 3/19, Dayan Ahmad 2/24).

ELITE CUP:

Preston University beat Heriot-Watt Unviersity by 50 runs.

Preston University 185 for 7 in 25 overs (Shakoor Abdul 42, Irfan Asif 32, Abdul Wali 58 not out; Qasim Zubair 2/25, Talha Zaveri 2/42). Heriot-Watt 135 all out in 20.4 overs (Saad Aslam 34, Suhail Ahmed 26; Shoaib Sarwar 4/33, Taymoor Ahmed 2/24, Abdul Wali 2/11).

Mahi Manipal University bt Middlesex University by 4 wkts.

Middlesex 117 all out in 22.2 overs (Bilal Siddiqui 32, Burhan Azam 17; Nigel Rodrigues 4/15, Aqib Ilyas 2/25). Manipal 120 for 6 in 22.4 overs (Ryan Pinto 39; Aqib Ilyas 21; Burhan Azam 3 /27).