Sharjah: Rizwan Khan and Shoaib Laghari scored brilliant half-centuries to guide Phoenix Medicine to a big 112-run win over Radio 4 in the Aseel Islamic Finance 26th Sharjah Ramadan Cup 2014 Twenty20 cricket tournament.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Phoenix Medicine found themselves in trouble with both openers back in the pavilion early. However, it was the only moment Radio4 bowlers to relish as Khan and Laghari ran havoc then on.
The duo shared 151 runs for the third wicket in just around 13 overs flooding the session with boundaries and sixes to put Phoenix Medicine in the driver’s seat. While Khan faced only 54 deliveries to smash a brilliant unbeaten 93 peppered with six hits to the fence and four times over it, Shoaib Laghari fired a 44-ball 85 as he blasted five boundaries and seven sixes.
Pervaiz Nasser provided the ideal finishing touches to score a 12-ball 30 including two fours and three sixes as Phoenix Medicine achieved 219 for three in 20 overs.
Chasing a huge target, Radio 4’s opener Shahzad Mahmoud (48, 32b, 4x4, 3x6) showed some resistance while Vinod Nayar and Rama Krishna chipped in with 18 and 19 respectively only to delay the inevitable as Radio 4 were shot out for 107 in 18.1 overs. Mohammad Azhar ran through the lower order claiming three wickets while Adel Mirza bagged two wickets.
Alubond Tigers, meanwhile, sealed a comfortable 66-run win over DCCA in the sixth Al Dhaid Ramadan tournament at the Al Dhaid Cricket Village. Both tournaments are being organised by Sharjah Cricket Council.
Batting first after winning the toss, Alubond Tigers were led by a fine batting performance from Hassan Raza after the top order had collapsed cheaply leaving them struggling at nine for four. Raza scored a fine 35 runs from 44 balls including two boundaries while Adwan chipped in with a 52-ball 22 to put Alubond Tigers back on track.
