Brilliant late-order hitting from Jalp Shah helped DPS Sharjah reach the U-15 NSL semi-final after a pulsating four-wicket victory over Our Own Zenith yesterday.
Chasing 133 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, DPS Sharjah looked like they had blown their chances of qualifying for the last four after being reduced to 87-5 with 14.2 overs gone.
But Shah smashed a huge six to settle the nerves and, along with Owais Sajid, continued to pile on the runs. In a game that could’ve gone either way, the pressure was back on when the latter was run-out in the 18th over.
Shah (26 off 18) held his nerve and continued to play his shots. The all-rounder remained composed and, still needing one run, he smashed a boundary off the penultimate ball to seal victory.
It was a fine way to end the NSL campaign at Sharjah Cricket Stadium with the semi-finals and final set to be played at the ICC Academy in Dubai.
Shah said: “I felt I was under pressure after the first two or three balls, but after that I started to get more confident.
“I didn’t want to miss any ball and in the end I just came down the track. It’s a good feeling to have reached the semis.”
For his coach, Vikram Dutt, the victory was more significant. He said: “I had confidence in them but I didn’t know when they would deliver. I told them to play positive cricket and we will win, because 132 on this ground is a good score.”
But Our Own Zenith will go home with their heads up high. Mohamed Ajmal hit 52 (five fours, two sixes) to finish as his side’s top-scorer while Atharva Inamdar finished with figures of 2-21.
Disappointed Our Own Zenith captain Brandon Martis said: “I felt we were 20 runs short. Our bowling was not up to the mark and we gave away too many wides.”
In the capital, Abu Dhabi Indian School made a strong statement with a comfortable 94-run win over unbeaten PAK Eagles. Jonathan Figy (43) and Akhilesh Ramesh (42) were the only two to reach double figures as Abu Dhabi Indian School posted a competitive 142-5.
But Abhishek Prakash ripped through the PAK Eagles line-up and was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-17.
Elsewhere, at the ICC Academy, Aryan Lakra picked up where he left off on Friday, claiming another man-of-the-match award as DPS Falcons (Dubai) overcame JC Heat by six wickets.
Lakra claimed three wickets as JC Heat, despite a brave effort from Ashar Zuberi (43), were all out for 101. In reply, Lakra, who took two wickets and scored 66 runs in his side’s U-13 win over Winchester Cobras on Friday, was out for one, but his team crossed the line as Rishab Mukaarjee top-scored with an unbeaten 30.
In the other U15 quarter-final, Akbar Khan and Ayush Walia took two wickets each as DIA Wolves earned a 59-run win against TMS Amateurs. Batting first, DIA Wolves recovered from a slow start as Walia hit 44 off 45 before retiring hurt.
A useful knock from Hrithik Bhatia (31) ensured his team posted 143-5 in their 20 overs.
Wickets fell regularly for TMS Amateurs, and their innings came to an end in the 18th over.
The semi-final draw will now be held in Dubai tomorrow.
PAK Hawks take their revenge to seal semis spot
PAK Hawks Sharjah extracted revenge for their group defeat with a nine-wicket victory over Gulf Asian Challengers to enter the U-13 NSL semi-finals.
They will join Efians Army in the last four after Aymon Maab claimed three wickets to inspire his team to a 14-run win over Abu Dhabi Indian School.
PAK Hawks and Gulf Asian Challengers had met in November with the latter holding off their opponents in a tense four-run win.
While the result didn’t matter with both teams advancing, PAK Hawks had the final say in the quarter-final yesterday. Put in to bat first, Challengers posted 103-3 as Thasin Rehman hit three boundaries in his 21-run knock.
Chasing, Abdul Moiz smashed six boundaries before falling four short of a deserved half-century. His partner Ibrar Hussain was in fine form and hit two sixes and three boundaries en route to an unbeaten 43, which eventually sealed victory.
PAK Hawks captain M Qasim Suleman said: “I thought we were going to lose because things weren’t going our way. But our bowlers worked really hard and we’ll now try our best to win the semi-final.”
Coach Fahim Alvi remained cautious. “We did some strategic changes to the team as we knew they were strong.
“But it was a gamble that paid off and was a good team effort. It’s a good feeling to qualify but now it’s going to be tough as there will be four strong teams in the semi-finals.”
Meanwhile, at the Abu Dhabi Nursery Oval, Ishit Patel top-scored for Efians Army as they posted 123-2. With his team losing an early wicket, top-order batsman and opener Fazal Shahid (28) steadied the innings, before he was sent to the pavilion by Athul Murali.
Patel (44 off 34, three fours) was joined by Yassir Ali (28 off 25, four fours) and by the end of their innings the duo had struck seven boundaries.
Chasing, Abu Dhabi Indian School, who qualified for the stage as group winners, found it tough against a spirited Efians Army bowling unit. Wickets fell regularly and despite a brave knock from Zaid Shaikh (30), Maab (3-16) and Saif Khaja (2-17) proved too hot to handle as the batting side fell short.
