Selex and Masters Club recorded runaway wins over their respective Group C rivals in the Ramadan Twenty20 Cricket Tournament at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium.
Man of the match Asif Ashraf clobbered four sixes and ten boundaries in his blazing 80 not out to spark a 10-wicket romp for Selex against Khan Youngsters, chasing the 136-run target in just 9.3 overs.
His partner in the 137-run unbroken stand was Shihab, who hit two sixes and as many fours to finish with 36 not out in 24 balls.
Masters Club made light of the Gulf Contracting Club’s stiff-looking 166-run target as Umer Swedi led the pursuit. In his 26-ball blitz, he fired seven sixes and two fours to compile 61. He was declared the man of the match as he had grabbed two wickets earlier.
Talha chipped in 41of 30 deliveries, including three sixes and one four. Khalid also came up with an unbeaten 32 off 19 balls, which contained three sixes as well.
In two Group B matches, Commercial Bank Qatar and Chittagong Rising Stars essayed contrasting victories. While CBQ edged Gladiators Club by two wickets off the last ball, with Bilal finishing the match with a pulsating 16 not out, Chittagong Rising Stars overcame a stiff resistance from Jasim (four for five) to beat Pak Falcons by four wickets.
Israr hammered 80 off 47 balls with three sixes and eight fours to launch the chase with a 55-run opening-wicket stand, shared by Moazzam (15). Later, the match headed for a nail-biting finish as the opponents recovered to grab eight wickets, leaving CBQ with 16 runs in the final over.
Bilal however rifled a six and a four with three doubles to clinch the match off the final ball with an unbeaten 16 in seven balls. Earlier for Gladiators Club, Shahbaz hit 46 in 29 balls with four sixes and three fours to lift them to 142 in 18 overs. Tariq chipped in 33 not out with two sixes and as many fours.
Moazzamil (three for 11) and Mustafiz (two for 13) caused the collapse of Pak Falcons at 68 in 14 overs. Saiful (25 in 23 balls with three fours) and Raihan (24 in 37 balls) helped the team avert the crisis and clinch the match in 12.4 overs. Moazzamil was given the man of the match award for three wickets and two run outs.
Brief scores
Group C
Selex beat Khan Youngsters by 10 wickets
Khan Youngsters: 136 for six in 18 overs (Abrar 39 in 26 balls, Shahzad 39 in 38 balls, Mujtaba 24 not out in 23 balls; Shihab 2/19)
Selex 137 for no loss in 9.3 overs (Asif Ashraf 80 not out in 32 balls, Shihab 36 not out in 24 balls)
Man of the match: Asif Ashraf (Selex)
Masters Club beat Gulf Contracting Club by five wickets
Gulf Contracting Club: 165 for seven in 18 overs (Dinesh 46 in 31 balls, Rishad 37 not out in 17 balls, Varghese 24 in 23 balls, Poojari 23 in 19 balls; Umer Swedi 2/19, Zahid 2/28, Talha 2/33)
Masters Club: 166 for five in 15.5 overs (Umer Swedi 61 in 26 balls, Talha 41 in 30 balls, Khalid 32 not out in 19 balls; Sudheesh 2/19)
Man of the match: Umer Swedi (Masters Club)
Group B
Commercial Bank of Qatar beat Gladiator Club by two wickets
Gladiator Club: 142 for five in 18 overs (Shahbaz 46 in 29 balls, Tariq 33 in 26 balls (retired hurt); Hadi 2/14, Hassan 2/34)
CBQ: 143 for eight in 18 overs (Israr 80 in 46 balls, Moazzam 15 in 20 balls, Bilal 16 not out in 7 balls; Kaleem 3/18, Shahbaz 3/28, Aman 2/22)
Man of the match: Israr (CBQ)
Chittagong Rising Stars beat Pak Falcons by four wickets
Pak Falcons: 68 all out in 14 overs (Dost Mohammad 14 in 12 balls, Manan 13 in 9 balls; Moazammil 3/11, Mustafiz 2/13)
Chittagong Rising Stars: 69 for six in 12.4 overs (Saiful 25 in 23 balls, Raihan 24 in 37 balls; Jasim 4/5, Ibrahim Khawash1/ 2)
Man of the match: Moazzamil (Chittagong Rising Stars)
Men of the matches: Moazammil, Asif, Israr and Umer
