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Cricket 8’s sets the pace in Dubai Corporate Sports

The Cricket 8’s league started at the beginning of February with 20 teams, split into five groups.

Danube Lions are the tournament favourites. — Supplied photo

The Cricket 8’s of the six-week long Dubai Corporate Sports Tournament, is well poised as team gear up to battle it out in the quarter-finals stage on March 21.

One of six sports in the inaugural Dubai-based corporate sports event, the Cricket 8’s has attracted the most spectators and proven to be one of the most popular along with football.

The Cricket 8’s league started at the beginning of February with 20 teams, split into five groups. The league qualifications actually finishes a week earlier than the rest of the sports in the tournament as the last eight teams were decided on Wednesday evening, with Danube Lions looking to be among the favourites for the overall title.

The other quarter-finalists are: OSN; Tiger Steel; MPC; Fitness First; Emrill; Transmed, and Chalhoub Group.

Dubai Corporate Sports Tournament 2014 has, for the most part, adopted a league format for its six-sport, six-week event; however, additional one-day events will be held on Grand Finals Day, as well as the play-offs and finals for the league teams.

According to the organisers, applications for the one-day events are still open to teams in the basketball, bowling, touch-rugby and athletics competitions. Touch Rugby is the only sport that did not employ a league format and all games will be played and conclude on March 21.

A quick round-up of results in the penultimate week of the leagues shows that Middlesex University (MU) continues to maintain its dominance in the women’s 100 and 200 metres as well as the 4x100m mixed relay races — a position MU has sustained since the first week of competition. Dubai British Schools continue their lead of the men’s 100 metres with the 200 metres top spot held by Bits Pilani.

The university could not, however, maintain its leadership in the Basketball 3’s league with Sharjah Carbon Factory, 3M, DU 3logy and MPC Healthcare overtaking them this week with a 4-points advantage.

Topping the Soccer 7’s league this week is the Cadillac team with 20 points. Emrill FC and Etisalat occupy the second and third spot, with both on 18 points, also separated only on 5 goal difference.

In the Ten-Pin Bowling, the Emirates Airline “EK BCN” team looks favourite to maintain their dominance from the start of the tournament into the final week although their sister team “EK BOS” and Dubai Duty Free share the same points haul of 32. EK BCN are top due to their vastly superior “Total Pin Fall” (+908) over second placed EK BOS.

“Entering into the final week of the league competitions, Dubai Sports Council is pleased to note the amazing success already achieved in this inaugural event and we are looking forward to next week’s final league results and to an amazing finale on March 21st.” said Dr. Ahmed Al Sharif, General Secretary of the Dubai Sports Council.

Adil Yousif Al Bannay, Manager of Social Sports, Dubai Sports Council, added: “We congratulate all the teams who have either qualified for the playoffs or are in contention to go for glory next week.”

To keep track of the teams, rankings and results you can go to: www.dcsportstour.com.