Dubai: UAE national team skipper Rohan Mustafa geared up for a three-match one series tour to Netherlands by cracking a match-winning unbeaten half century to help One Stop Tourism win the Dubai Cricket Council’s Ramadan T20 Bash title defeating Bukhatir XI by eight wickets in the final.
Mustafa was in top form in this tournament hitting an unbeaten 62 off 52 balls studded with a six and seven fours. He walked away with the player of the tournament award by scoring 157 runs and bagging eight wickets from the four matches. In the final, Mustafa won the toss and asked Bukhatir XI to bat first.
UAE’s left-arm spinner Ahmad Raza struck repeatedly with a spell of three for 15 to put the brakes on Bukhatir XI after Zawar Farid and Khalid Shah gave a good start.
Speaking to Gulf News, Raza, who won the man of the match award for his spell, said: “Mustafa is my national team captain too and he always gives me bowling when he wants a breakthrough or to slow the run rate. I enjoy targeting top players and produce my best in pressure situations. I am happy that I could take vital wickets and win the man of the match in the Dubai Ramadan final.”
Raza removed Shah for 20 and then took the prized wickets of Adnan Mufti, the best batsman of the tournament, for 32 runs. He also dismissed consistent batsman CP Rizwan for 3. Bukhatir XI slipped to 91 for 6 and, with Rameez Shehzad (24) and Mohammed Halan (20), they got 135 for 8 in their 20 overs. Umair Ali Khan too chipped in with a spell of 3 for 20.
With Mustafa in top form, chasing the small total wasn’t difficult. He went for his strokes right away. His partner Hafiz Kaleem cracked 40 from just 15 balls with one six and seven boundaries. After Kaleem fell, Gulam Shabbir hit an unbeaten 29 and guided One Stop team to the target in just 16 overs.
Salim Hanif of Dubai Sports City and Shiva Pagarani of Dubai Cricket Council presented the prizes.
Brief scores:
One Stop Tourism bt Bukhatir XI by 8 wickets. Bukhatir XI 135 for 8 in 20 overs (Adnan Mufti 32, Rameez Shehzad 24, Zawar Farid 20, Mohammed Halan 20; Ahmed Raza 3 for 15, Umair Ali Khan 3 for 20) One Stop Tourism 139 for 2 in 16.2 overs (Rohan Mustafa 62 n.o., Hafiz Kaleem 40, Ghulam Shabbir 29 n.o.). Man of the match: Ahmed Raza.
Individual awards: Best batsman: Adnan Mufti (5 matches, 206 runs), best bowler: Mohammed Halan (5 matches, 9 wickets). Player of the Tournament: Rohan Mustafa (4 matches, 157 runs and 8 wickets).