Eurocon to clash with Ibson CC in Danube final

Eurocon Alubond will meet Ibsons CC in the final of the Danube Ramadan T20 Cup after registering convincing victories at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday night.

The tournament is hosted by Dubai Sports City and sponsored by Danube Group with Khaleej Times, Ten Cricket and Radio 4 as media partners.

In the first semifinal, Dilhara Lokuhettige, a Sri Lankan international, scored a half-century as Eurocon defeated Seven Seas Strikers by 40 runs.

Winning the toss and opting to bat, Eurocon ran into trouble when they lost three wickets for just 26 runs. Left-arm pacer Rana Kashif struck twice while chinaman Hazrit Hussain took one.

Lokuhettige and Abdul Rehman put things back to perspective sharing 20 runs for the fourth wicket. Rehman departed scoring 10 runs after which Vikrant Shetty carried on the good work.

Vikrant and Lokuhettige put on a crucial 67 runs for the fifth wicket enabling Eurocon past the three-digit figures. Vikrant during his stay scored 19 from 20 balls including two boundaries.

Lokuhettige took on the Seven Seas’ bowlers and hammered two sixes and five boundaries during his 42-ball knock that fetched 55 runs before he was out to Ghulam Rasoul.
Rasoul added another two to his tally to finish with a three-wicket haul in his two overs.

Mohammed Azam smashed a nine-ball 20 to take Eurocon to a competitive 159 for nine in 20 overs.

Baber Ali was the other bowler who succeeded with two wickets.

In reply, Seven Seas made the right beginning with Bilal Irshad coming up with a 32-ball 44 runs including four boundaries and one six.

Vikrant returned with three wickets to peg back the initiative as Seven Seas faltered.

Kashif Rana (13 not out) and Hasnain Raza (14) came up with some brief cameos down the order but that enabled Seven Seas reach 119 for nine in 20 overs.

Mohammed Azam accounted for two wickets for the winners.

In the other semifinal, Ibsons CC edged past Danube Lions by a close 13 runs.

Batting first, Ibsons got off to a splendid start with openers Mohammed Boota (35) and Faizan Asif (36) putting on 69 runs for the opening wicket.

While Boota hit one boundary and two sixes, Asif smashed four fours and three sixes.

Baber Malik took 16 balls to score 28 and Mohammed Akbar was unbeaten on 16 as Ibsons gathered 150 for seven in 20 overs.

For Danube, Mashood CTK ad Sameer Nayak took three each.

In reply, Danube made a steady start when Jay Prakash (15) and Prashanth Braggs (18) were cruising well before Mohammed Tanvir stole the limelight scalping four wickets in his four overs conceding 21 runs.

Naeem Ullah (22) and Mashood CTK (27) were other significant contributors but the lower order failed to withstand the pressure as Danube succumbed to 137 in 20 overs.

Fayyaz Ahmed took three wickets for the winners.

Brief scores:

Eurocon Alubond bt Seven Seas by 40 runs: Eurocon 159-9 in 20 overs (Azeem Ghumman 15, Dilhara Lokuhettige 55, Vikrant Shetty 19, Mohammed Azam 20; Ghulam Rasoul 3-18, Rana Kashif 2-22, Babar Ali 2-36). Seven Seas 119-9 in 20 overs (Bilal Irshad 44; Vikrant 3-26, Mohammed Azam 2-28). Man of the Match: Dilhara Lokuhettige.

Ibsons CC bt Danube Lions by 13 runs: Ibsons 150-7 in 20 overs (Mohammed Boota 35, Faizan Asif 36, Baber Malik 28; Mashood CTK 3-18, Sameer Nayak 3-25). Danube 137 all out in 20 overs (Jay Prakash 15, Prashanth Braggs 18, Naeem Ullah 22, Mashood CTK 27; Mohammed Tanvir 4-21, Fayyaz Ahmed 3-15). Man of the Match: Mohammed Tanvir.
 

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