Abu Dhabi: Nasir Aziz and Asif Mumtaz led a remarkable fightback to script a last ball victory for Alubond Tigers and a passage to the semi-finals of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council Ramadan Twenty20 Cup.
The pair shared a 60-run stand without being separated to lead their team to a three-wicket win over New Medical Centre, a low-scoring game under lights at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Aziz was the architect of the chase. The former UAE international arrived at the crease after the fall of the fourth wicket for nine runs and then watched three more batters fall for 48 in 11.2 overs.
Aziz then found Mumtaz an able partner and together they started to rebuilt the inning. They had a stiff task of 30 runs in the last three overs, which they reduced to 20 in two to bring down the equation to eight in the last over.
Mumtaz hit the last ball for four when the scores were tied to complete the victory and a semi-final meeting with United Bank Limited.
Aziz remained 43 not out from 49 balls that included three hits to the fence while Mumtaz chipped in with 31 not out off 29 balls with a couple of hits to the fence.
Mumtaz also provided the early breakthrough by removing the NMC openers as they were restricted to 104 for eight.
In the late game, Royal Gymkhana stunned Mir, undefeated in the league round, by 48 runs to set up a semi-final clash with One Stop Tourism.
Faisal Mustafa did most of the damage by taking four for 18 from four overs as Mir were bundled out for 86 in reply to Gymkhana’s 134 all out in 19.4 overs.
Brief Scores: Alubond Tigers beat New Medical Centre by three wickets. NMC 104 for 8 in 20 overs (Asif Mumtaz 2-6, Fayyaz Ahmed 2-22) Alubond Tigers 108 for 7 in 20 overs (Nasir Aziz 43 not out, Asif Mumtaz 31 not out, Ganesh Gaekwad 2-18, Nisar Ahmed 2-18, Aqif Raja 2-21)
Royal Gymkhana beat Mir by 48 runs. Mir 86 all out in 15.3 overs (Faisal Mustafa 4-18, Jamil Aslam 2-18) Royal Gymkhana 134 all out in 19.4 overs (Kashif Dawood 45, Faisal Mustafa 37, Abdullah Azhar 4-12, Saifullah Noor 3-27).
