Dulsco keep hopes alive with five-wicket victory

Opener Sajjad Khalil’s splendid innings of 76 was the feature of Dulsco’s first victory in their second match.

Dulsco beat Light Speed Garage. — Supplied photo

Dubai — Hosts Dulsco scored a convincing five-wicket victory against Light Speed Garage to stay in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth in the 14th Dulsco Ramadan Cricket tournament at the Zabeel Park Cricket Ground, Zabeel Park, Dubai, on Saturday night.

Opener Sajjad Khalil’s splendid innings of 76 was the feature of Dulsco’s first victory in their second match. After Light Speed Garage had posted 167-6 in the allotted 20 overs, Dulsco had no trouble in overhauling the target with eight balls to spare. This was Light Speed Garage’s second successive defeat and they are virtually out of the tournament.

Light Speed Garage were looking to bounce back after their defeat in the first match against Emril and were given a blazing start by their openers after captain Salim Khan had opted to bat first. Amir Raza and Salim Rahim formed a dominant partnership to take the team to 74 but this stand was ended by Zeeshan Siddique.

Raza made a cracking 33 off 18 balls and it included two fours and two sixes. Rahim followed Raza 11 runs later after hitting four fours and one sixes for his 29-ball 38. He was dismissed by Mohammed Shoaib, who picked two more quick wickets to keep Light Speed Garage’s run-rate in check. From 74-1 Light Speed Garage were 102-5 in the 14th over as they struggled to find the big overs.

At this stage, Saaed Khan took the onus on himself to go after the Dulsco bowling. He was in destructive mood as he hit four hits to the fence and five over it. He remained not out 45 after facing 21 balls as Light Speed Garage finished on 167-6 with Musab Mohammed lending good support to Saeed with a 16-ball 14.

When Dulsco started their chase, they faced little difficutly with openers Ayub Iqbal and Khalil starting in blazing fashion. Iqbal hit one four and one six in making 17 off 13 balls before being stumped by wicketkeeper Amir Raza off Salim Rahim.

But Khalil was in belligerent mood and Iqbal’s dismissal had no bearing on him. He was finally dismissed but his scintillating knock had virtually put Dulsco on the path of victory. Khalil’s 76 came off 41 balls and saw him blasting nine fours and four sixes before falling in the 13th over with the score reading 102. He was later named the Multiplex man of the match.

After Khalil’s exit, Zeeshan Siddique wasted little time in easing his side to a five-wicket victory in 18.4 overs. He was so aggressive that he took only 14 balls for his 36 which was studded with two fours and three sixes.