Amjad shines as UBL thrash Power House

Despite the loss of two early wickets of Syed Maqsood (17) and Saqlain Hayder (1), Ali displayed an array of shots to power UBL to a big total.

Sharjah — Amjad Ali cracked a brilliant century as UBL registered a huge 222-run victory over Power House in Group D of the 41st Bukhatir League for Interface Cup 2015. The tournament is being organised by Sharjah Cricket Council, a Press release said.

Opting to bat after winning the toss, skipper Amjad Ali led from the front as he opened the innings for UBL.

Despite the loss of two early wickets of Syed Maqsood (17) and Saqlain Hayder (1), Ali displayed an array of shots to power UBL to a big total.

Rameez Shahzad played the perfect second fiddle to his skipper as the duo shared a fine 124-run stand for the third wicket.  Shahzad scored 43 from 55 deliveries with just a boundary and a lone six.

Ali continued his assault as he reached a superb 115 from 112 deliveries including 13 boundaries. Babar Hussain (31, 35b, 1x4) and Adeel Anwar (28, 30b, 2x4) further strengthened the total playing brief cameos before Mohammad Shakir fired a brisk 51 from just 27 deliveries with two boundaries and four sixes to ensure UBL made a mammoth 331 in 50 overs.

Surinder Kumar was the pick of the bowlers for Power House claiming four wickets in his four overs while Ehtesham Siddiq and Anil Sharma bagged two each.

Chasing a big target, Power House batsmen succumbed under pressure with the top order collapsing. UBL were 49 for four before Mohammad Kaif (42, 42b, 1x4, 1x6) and Mohammad Kamran (14, 19b, 3x4) put a brief halt sharing 35 runs for the fifth wicket.

But once Kamran succumbed, the rest of the batsmen fell like a pack of cards with two batsmen scoring ducks. Zaheer Maqsood and Ramees Shahzad picked up three wickets each while Umar Farooq bagged two.