Dubai: Rahul Neelesh Bhatia, who destroyed the Papua New Guinea (PNG) team recently in a warm-up match here before the ICC World Cricket League championship matches against UAE with a five wicket spell, carried his form into the UAE Inter Emirates National Under-19 tournament final to help Dubai Cricket Council (DCC) Under-19s emerge as the champions at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Rahul not only picked three crucial wickets to bowl out Sharjah Cricket Council for 198 runs and ensure an exciting eight runs victory but also scored 23 vital runs while batting down the order to help DCC post a challenging 206 runs.
Speaking to Gulf News, Rahul who bowls left-arm spin, said: “To get runs and take wickets in an inter emirates final and contribute to the team’s victory in a closely fought match excites me. My recent performances strengthens my dreams of playing for the UAE in international cricket.”
Dubai won the toss and got off to a bad start. Their in-form opener Aryan Lakra fell for 7 at the score on 11, followed by skipper Krishna Monish Lakhani for 4. When Mohammad Ali Mirza too got run out, DCC slipped to 36 for 3. To make matters worse, their in-form batsman Ronak Panoly too fell for 16. T. Tugnait (43) and H. Bhatia (33) forged a 69-run partnership to steer DCC to 112 and Rahul’s timely 23 swelled the total to 179 runs before wicketkeeper Rithik Irani with 36 runs ensured a respectable total. Mubeen Ali bowled brilliantly to take five wickets for 42 runs.
Chasing the total, Sharjah got off to a good start. Openers Harikshnan Kannadi (27) and Ash Tandon put on 41 runs. One-drop batsman Mehd Asari too scored 35 runs. Sharjah were in a commanding 101 for 1 at one stage. When Rahul struck to remove Tandon for 38, Sharjah lost another wicket too quickly when Rahul trapped B. Martis leg before for a duck. Mohammad Ali Mirza too chipped in with two wickets and Sharjah slipped to 137 for 5. Rahul also took the prized wicket of Sharjah captain Salah Shakeel for 16. His bowling was also backed by some brilliant fielding. Though Glenn Fernandes battled strongly with 29 runs, he too got run out and Sharjah fell short of the target.
Brief scores:
Dubai Cricket Council Under-19 team bt Sharjah Cricket Council Under-19 team by 8 runs. DCC Under-19: 206 in 49.5 overs (T. Tugnait 43, H. Bhatia 33, Rithik Israni 36, Rahul Bhaita 23, Mubeen Ali 5 for 42) SCC Under-19: 198 in 49.4 overs (Harikshnan Kannadi 27, Ash Tandon 38, Mehd Asaria 35, Glenn Fernandez 29, Rahul Bhatia 3 for 26, Mohammad Ali Mirza 2 for 33).
