Prithvi Naik and Izaan Ahmed star in EFIA’s victory

Prithvi Naik and Izaan Ahmed stroked superb half centuries to set the platform for Emirates Future International Academy’s (EFIA) second win in the ADCB Abu Dhabi inter-school under-16 tournament.

Prithvi Naik receives the man of the match award from Shahnawaz Hakim of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council. — Supplied photo

They shared a 99-run partnership for EFIA to put up 158 for three on the board and set up a 43-ru win over Sunrise English School.

Naik played the anchor role with a top score of 58 not out and Ahmed smacked nine fours in a 42-ball 52. Omair Khan and Bakhtamir Khan then took five wickets between them to restrict Sunrise to 115 for eight to EFIA to the top of Group A.

Abu Dhabi Indian School won twice in two days over both, The Cambridge High School by five wickets and Merryland International in a thriller with a delivery to spare, for them to remain unbeaten in three games in Group B. Merryland, electing to take first lease of the wicket, put up 120 for four on the board with the opener Zeeshan Hyder (35 off 38 balls) and two-drop Huzaifah Khan (run-a-ball 24 not out) being the main contributors. But it was their bowlers, particularly Shazaib Nasim (2 for 14 from 4 overs), Roshen Mendis (1 for 17 off 4), and Nasir Abdulla (1 for 13 from 3), who nearly turned the game around for them. Merryland despite the defeat qualified behind ADIS to the semifinals along with EFIA and Model School.