Seven Seas strike NMC in opening KFC T20 match

An all-round performance from Mohammad Tariq and a gritty half century by Salman Afziel spurred Seven Seas Strikers to an easy five-wicket victory over NMC in the group match on the opening day of the newly launched KFC Emirates T20 Club Cricket League at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The tournament is organised for the first time ever by the Emirates Cricket Board’s Domestic Cricket Development Committee (ECB-DCDC) and is presented by Grand Midwest Hotels.

Tariq first claimed three wickets from his four overs to restrict NMC to 137 for nine in 20 overs and then fired an unbeaten 46 as Seven Seas achieved the target in the last over.

Asked to bat first, NMC opener Niresh Fernando and Asim Ijaz steadied the innings after losing Sampath Indika (3) early.

The duo shared 53 runs for the second wicket with Fernando smashing a 19-ball 33 peppered with three boundaries and two maximums. Ijaz hit 28 from 25 deliveries consisting of three fours and a six.

Tariq provided crucial breaks that completely slowed down NMC’s progress.

Thanks to a late Naveed’s unbeaten 32 from 28 balls containing three boundaries, NMC reached a healthy total.

Shafqat Ali was the other best bowler to bag two wickets conceding 21 runs from his four overs.

In reply, Seven Seas had a shaky start after NMC pacer Manjula Guruge bowled a sizzling spell to rip through the top order and Sikander joining the party claiming a wicket early.

At 29 for three, Seven Seas were precariously placed before Salman Afziel and Gulam Sahbier (19) shared a vital 24-run stand for the fourth wicket to revive the innings. But Guruge struck again to dismiss Shabier.

Afziel and Tariq then stopped the rut with both playing sensible knocks to completely deny NMC bowlers from further dominating.

Both shared a superb 70-run stand for the fifth wicket to take the game away.

Guruge ended Afziel’s (55, 42b, 2x4, 5x6) run to claim his fourth wicket but the success came a little too late as Seven Seas overhauled the target in 19.4 overs to seal a five-wicket victory.

Tariq remained unbeaten on 46 coming off just 39 deliveries including four boundaries and a six.

Brief scores

Seven Seas Strikers bt NMC by 5 wickets: NMC 137 for 9 wickets in 20 overs (Niresh Fernando 33, Asim Ijaz 28, Ashan Ali 16, Naveed 32 not out; Mohmmad Tariq 3 for 23, Shafqat Ali 2 for 21). Seven Seas 140 for 5 in 19.4 overs (Gulam Sahbier 19, Salman Afziel 55, Mohmmad Tariq 46 not out; Manjula Guruge 4 for 16). Man of the Match: Mohammad Tariq. Umpires: Ifthikar Ali and B A Khan. Scorers: Zameel Hameed

 

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