Dubai: UAE captain Rohan Mustafa and Gujarat Lions’ Indian Premier League (IPL) player Chirag Suri displayed their top form in the Sharjah T20 Summer Cup organised by Sharjah Cricket Club at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Mustafa sparkled for One Stop Tourism with a knock of 61 runs and a deadly spell of four for 19 against Emirates Warriors, while Suri hit an unbeaten 65 for Sharjah Cricket Club against Al Massa Contracting. Their performances ensured their teams a berth in the semi-finals.
Speaking to Gulf News, Mustafa, who bowls medium pace and at times off-spin, said: “I often change my bowling style according to the wicket. Against Emirates Warriors the wicket was a batting track and hence I bowled fast. I have sharpened my ability to bowl yorkers and it helped.”
Suri was thrilled with his knock and told Gulf News: “I am playing well and feeling good. After playing for UAE in Netherlands too I was among the runs and it felt nice. I am feeling good with the bat and want to extend my form.”
Mustafa had sparkled with the bat scoring 61 runs in just 30 balls to help One Stop Tourism post a mammoth 246 runs in 19.3 overs.
His knock contained five boundaries and four sixes.
Incidentally, One Stop got off to a whirlwind start with opener Fahad Ansari scoring 42 from only 19 balls with three fours and four sixes. Mustafa and Ansari put on 64 runs in 4.4 overs. Their knocks were followed by Muhammad Ikram Jora, who hit a 29-ball 55 runs with three boundaries and four sixes and Muhammad Usman’s 12-ball 25 runs.
Chasing the total, Emirates Warriors’ Fahad Tariq (76) and Nasir Aziz (50n.o) could only resist the attack. Mustafa’s four wicket spell ensured One Stop defeated Emirates Warriors by 70 runs.
Sharjah Cricket Club got past Al Massa Contracting by seven wickets mainly due to Suri’s unbeaten 65 from just 46 balls consisting of six fours and two sixes while Yassir Kaleem chipped in with 37-runs from 31 balls. Earlier, Al Massa Contracting could muster only 135 for 7 in 20 overs.
Brief scores: One Stop Tourism bt Emirates Warriors by 70 runs. One Stop Tourism: 246 in 19.3 overs (Fahad Ansari 42, Rohan Mustafa 61, Muhammad Ikram Jora 55, Muhammad Usman 25, Yaqoob Masih 4 for 37, Fahad Tariq 3 for 35, Nasir Aziz 2 for 36). Emirates Warriors: 176 for 9 in 20 overs (Fahad Tariq 76, Nasir Aziz 50n.o; Rohan Mustafa 4 for 19). Man of the match: Rohan Mustafa.
Sharjah Cricket Club bt Al Massa Contracting by 7 wkts. Al Massa Contracting: 135 for 7 in 20 overs (Wasli Khan 23, Anil Sharma 40, Umer Butt 33n.o; Kashif Daud 2 for 22, Asif Mumtaz 2 for 36, Farhan Ahmed 2 for 24). Sharjah Cricket Club: 136 for 3 in 16 overs (Chirag Suri 65n.o, Yassir Kaleem 37). Man of the match: Chirag Suri.
