To score a fast half-century or claim four wickets in a match is something that any professional cricketer would be proud of. And for children to achieve such a feat is a dream come true.
For two young Cricket Maxway Academy cricketers, the dream became a reality. Last month, Sahil Sheik, 15, took four wickets in four balls, while 13-year-old Elred Rego smashed a 16-ball half-century in their respective MGS Vision Cup matches for Indian High School.
“I would say the four-wicket haul is the best moment of my life,” Sheik said of his performance against Our Own English High School, Sharjah at Skyline Ground.
“My main objective was to get quick wickets because the batsmen scored a lot of runs. I bowled extremely well in different angles to get four batsmen out. And my coaches said it was the first time it had happened in the history of the tournament, which made it more special.”
For Rego, it was a half-century to remember, especially when he was promoted up the order to bat at number three.
“You can say that I’m sort of an all-rounder now that I’ve scored 50 off 16 balls," said Rego. "At first, I was pretty scared because I never batted up the order.
“My coaches asked me to move up as it was a pretty tough target to achieve and it worked out,” added Rego, who hit nine sixes in his final total of 63, as well as claiming two wickets in the match against DPS Dubai.
And while the pupils are combining playing and studying, both want to play for the UAE Under-19s.
Sheik who looks up to South African seamer Dale Steyn and England quick James Anderson, said: “Now that I’ve been working so hard for three years I would like that success to be reached out to the under-19 level for the UAE.”
Asked if a call-up could come soon, Sheik replied: “Why not? If I work hard I think success will come sooner rather than later. It will be a very proud honour for me to play for the UAE. My parents will feel proud and my coaches will feel the same.
“I’m working on my batting as well as bowling. I realise that I have to improve on my batting and I have started this with my coaches at Cricket Maxway, and hopefully they will make me a better player.”
Despite being just 13, Rego has high aspirations in making a career as a cricketer.
“I’m striving hard to work hard to get selected in the under-19 team,” he said. “If I can continue to play like this in the future then I have a chance.
“If I get selected even though it will be a few years, it will hopefully be the start of international level cricket for me. I want to excel in cricket because it's a sport that I really enjoy.”
Derick D’Souza, business development executive at Maxtalent Global, which owns Maxway academy is sure both cricketers have promising futures.
D’Souza said: “We worked on Sheik from scratch and the coaches saw the potential in him. It was a tremendous effort to get four wickets in four balls and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets into the under-19 UAE squad.”
On Rego, he added: “Rego has been with us for five years and had gone to Muscat for our tour in March. And since then, he came back as a different person. He once hit the ball outside the stadium, and I think we will see a lot of good things from him in the future.”
Interface Transworld prove easy prey for ruthless Lions
Danube Lions wasted little time in defeating Interface Transworld by a comfortable eight wickets in a low scoring Group C match of the 40th Bukhatir League “A” Division Tournament.
Needing 89 to win, Danube Lions went past the target in the 15th over after losing just two wickets.
Sunday’s triumph was the second successive victory in the competition, organised by Sharjah Cricket Council, for Danube Lions.
And Interface Transworld, who have lost three and one just once, are virtually out of contention to qualify for the knockout stage.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Interface Transworld managed to get a steady start with openers Farhan Baber (19) and Nalin Khaitan (6) putting on a 24-run partnership for the first wicket.
Qais Farooq spent a lot of time in the middle negotiating 58 balls to score a steady 27 while Nashwan Nasir also gave him company facing 35 deliveries to hit 11 runs.
But the scenario changed suddenly for Interface after both batsmen were dismissed.
It allowed Danube Lions’ Rohan Mustafa and Kamran Ghulam to take charge in proceedings, as Interface struggled to build partnerships.
In fact, the rest of the batsmen could not even make it to double figures after Mustafa and Ghulam ran through the middle and lower order as Interface were bundled out for a paltry 83 in 35.3 overs.
With hardly any pressure chasing a modest target, Mustafa batted in his comfort zone to hit a fine 43. He was accompanied by Andri Berenger (26) as Lions surpassed the target in just 14.3 overs
