Dubai. Raja Waqas’ allround show helped Ocean Fair Sports Club emerge as the champions of the Ocean Fair Cup tournament held at the Dubai Investment Park ground.
It was a hard-fought final with Ocean Fair stopping ANIB by just eight runs short.
Waqas top scored with 46 runs in Ocean Fair’s total of 167 for seven in 20 overs.
Qasim Butt too chipped in with an unbeaten 35 runs.
ANIB, which has won many tournaments recently, chased brilliantly through Mohammad Imran’s 44 runs.
Waqas sparkled with the ball too and bagged ANIB’s three wickets backed by S. Shafqat and M. Farhad with two wickets each.
ANIB were bowled out for 159 in 19.3 overs.
Former Pakistan cricketer Ijaz Ahmad, who was once hailed as the finest No. 3 batsman that Pakistan ever produced, enthralled the finalists of the Ocean Fair Cup.
His presence excited the cricketers many of whom were from Ijaz’s country.
Interestingly, ANIB’s few Sri Lankan players too were interested in getting his autograph as a few of their parents were fans of Ijaz. Ijaz after a pep talk gave away the prizes. ANIB bowlers had in fact bowled well with their skipper Nevill Pereira leading the way with two wickets. M. Naveed, Ahson, Ronaq and Zahoor Khan took one wicket each but sill Ocean Fair could muster a challenging 167 runs.
Chasing the total, ANIB’s Vijesh Babu hit 21 runs and Zahoor Khan chipped in with 14 runs. Imran looked set for his half century when he got out resulting in ANIB failing to reach the target.
Brief scores:
Ocean Fair Sports Club bt ANIB by 8 runs. Ocean Fair Sports Club: 167 for 7 in 20 overs. (Raja Waqas 46; Hasnain Raza 23, Qassim Butt 35 n.o. Nevill Pereira 2 for 23) ANIB 159 in 19.3 overs Mohammad Imran 44, Vijesh Babu 21 and Zahoor Khan 14, Raja Waqas 3 for 16, Shafaqat Ali 2 for 13, M. Farhad 2 for 25).
Individual awards: Man of the Match (Final) Waqas Raja
Best batsmen: Jacob Ritchie (Ocean Fair), Best bowler: Shafaqat Ali (Ocean Fair), Player of the tournament: Anurag Nishad (ANIB).
