Malik's magic helps Yogi Group win

A blistering century by Naveed Malik guided Yogi Group to a superb four-wicket victory over Ibsons CC in the Danube Ramadan T20 Cup held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday night.

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

Malik was in a league of his own taking just 16 balls to reach his half century and then 55 balls to score 108. His knock, which was spiced with 15 boundaries and four sixes, ensured Yogi Group convincingly crossed the target  of 181 in 18.4 overs.

Earlier, Faizan Asif  scored a 32-ball 55 including seven boundaries and three sixes to ensure Ibsons CC posted a competitive 180 for seven in 20 overs.

In the other match, Eurocon Alubond defeated ECB Blues by eight wickets.

ECB Blues opting to bat first were in for a rude shock when Dilhara Lokuhettige removed the openers early. Mohammed Aftab was his third scalp and ECB Blues were precariously placed at 37 for three.

Chirag Suri held his end firm to score 21 runs from 31 balls including two boundaries. Nasir Aziz bowled a tidy line to haunt the ECB Blues accounting for three wickets in his four overs. Only Saqib Rasheed (16) offered some respite lower the order as ECB Blues made a disappointing 109 for eight in 20 overs.

In reply, Eurocon Alubond did face the heat for a little while as Shoaib Sarwar made early inroads to take two wickets, but Mahela Udawatte and Azeem Ghumman put those miseries behind and shared an unbeaten 88-run for the third wicket to overhaul the target in 11.2 overs.

Udawatte scored an unbeaten 63 off just 29 balls consisting of five hits to the ropes and four over it, while Azeem made 36 not out from 33 balls with the help of three boundaries and one six.

Brief scores

Yogi Group beat Ibsons CC by four wickets: Ibsons 180 for 7 in 20 overs (Faizan Asif 55, Bilal Azmat 15, Ibrahim Malik 17, Baber Malik 23, Shehzad Manna 26, Abdul Rehman 28no; Mohammed Rameez 2-40, Usman Malvi 2-36). Yogi Group 181 for six in 18.4 overs (Shaiman Anwar 26, Naveed Malik 108, Salman Faris 22; Shehzad Manna 3-29, Abdul Rehman 2-28). Danube Man of the Match Naveed Malik of Yogi Group.

Eurocon Alubond beat ECB Blues by 8 wickets: ECB Blues 109 for eight in 20 overs (Chirag Suri 21, Saqib Rasheed 16; Dilhara 3-32, Nasir Aziz 3-14). Eurocon Alubond: 110 for two in 11.2 overs (Mahela Udawatte 63no, Azeem Ghumman 36no). Danube Man of the match: Mahela Udawatte of Eurocon Alubond.
 

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