A superb spell by Iftikhar Ahmed (4-0-17-5) and a blazing 62 from Kaleem Burhan was the highlight of Carfare’s 47-run win over Jotun Paints in the final of the Dubai Cricket Council’s (DCC) B Division T20 Cup played at the cement wickets of the Rugby Sevens ground over the weekend.

Put into bat, Carfare rode on a superb 100-run first-wicket partnership between Kaleem and Pramod Sidke to make a healthy 152 for 9 from their allotted 20 overs.

Jotun Paints, in reply, got off to a good start only to falter in the end and get bowled out for 105.

Carfare had beaten Mulk Royal Panthers by 14 runs and Jotun defeated Web Channel by four wickets in the semi-finals.

Rohan Shetty won the toss for Jotun and, expecting his bowlers to strike early, sent Carfare in to bat. But the tables turned quickly on Jotun when Kaleem and Pramod grounded themselves well into the crease making life difficult for the Jotun bowlers.

Kaleem was quickly into his stride striking fours and sixes at will, while Pramod played second fiddle to a nicety by rotating the strike.

Pramod was first to go when Asghar Khan trapped him leg before wicket but only after Carfare galloped to 100.

Carfare seem to have dropped their guard at this stage giving Jotun a chance to make a fightback which they did through their skipper Rohan who grabbed three wickets.

Asghar and Bilal Murtaza too chipped in with wickets and Carfare were suddenly on the back foot at 118 for 5.

It was Kaleem’s slam bang hitting towards the slog overs which pulled the team out of a rut.

The opener finished with 62 from 39 balls with seven hits to the fence and four maximums.

Jotun began their chase on a positive note. Both the openers Rohan Shetty and Asghar Khan were going great guns. Their 67-run partnership saw the team cruising towards victory.

However, disaster struck when Rohit Verma saw the back of both these dangerous batsmen.

Once they departed Iftikhar took charge of the situation and in his spell-binding four overs broke the backbone of the Jotun batsmen to finish with impressive figures of 4-0-17-5.

Shahid Farooq then added the icing on the cake with two wickets as Carfare proved worthy winners.

Brief scores

Final

Carfare beat Jotun Paints by 47 runs

Carfare 152 for 9 in 20 overs (Kaleem Burhan 62, Pramod Sidke 20, Shoaib Butt 15; Rohan Shetty 3-30, Bilal Murtaza 2-16, Asghar Khan 2-19) Jotun Paints 105 all out in 19.2 overs (Asghar Khan 39, Rohan Shetty 22; Iftikhar Ahmed 5-17, Rohit Verma 2-13, Shahid Farooq 2-7). Man of the match: Iftikhar Ahmed of Carfare CC