Draw ensures hosts Danube Lions a safe path into Danube Test series final

Denzil Pinto 09:29 05/01/2015
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  • Moving on: Danube Lions punch their ticket to the Test series final.

    Hosts Danube Lions booked their spot in the Danube Test series final by drawing with GMW Royal at the ICC Academy in Dubai.

    – Abid Ali heroics help Danube Lions draw with Alubond Tigers

    With Danube declaring on 333- 9 thanks to a superb century from UAE opener Andri Berenger (135) and fifties from Vikrant Shetty (66) and Fakhir Zaman (57), GMW Royal entered the final day with 151 runs on the board.

    Needing a further 252 runs to take the lead, overnight batsman Shahid Sadiq started the day with a flourish as he smashed five bounda­ries en route to his 50. However, a misjudgment with team-mate Wasim Ashraf resulted in a brilliant direct hit from Fakhar Zaman, as Sadiq was dismissed for 54.

    Danube players confidence be­gan to grow as wickets fell at regu­lar intervals as GMW Royal were all out for 182 in 43.3 overs. Emmad Ali was the pick of the bowlers with four, while Rahil Sheikh and Rana Dastagir claimed two apiece.

    With Danube deciding to bat again, they lost opener Asif Iqbal for just four. Adnan Mufti scored 23.

    The batsmen struggled and Dan­ube were reeling at 96-7 when the final day came to an end as both sides agreed to a draw.

    The result ensured Danube fin­ished the series with 56 points while GMW Royal ended with 35 points. 

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