Devansh smashes league record 96 despite broken finger

Barny 10:17 16/11/2014
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  • Star man: Devansh Popley.

    DC Sixers U-15s captain Devansh Popley posted a National School League record in Dubai yesterday, smashing 96 runs off just 60 balls against Repton Royals.

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    And he put on the power-packed display despite playing with a broken finger, the injury sustained in practice last week. 

    It was the highest score by a batsmen in the tournament so far.

    “It was difficult playing with the injury but my main priority was to do my best and win for the team,” he said. “The difference was the first innings. We went out there with a good game plan and it came together well.”

    Scoring a century was certainly on Devansh’s mind, who said: “When I hit 90 runs, I started to think about it. I thought I was close but, more importantly, I was concerned about setting a difficult target for Repton Royals.

    “If are to go forward and win the NSL, we know what we need to do after today’s game,” he added.

    DC Sixers did just that, setting a target of 184/4, while the Royals were restricted to 124/8.

    Meanwhile, Irfan Zai’s half-century and Muhammad Sajid’s five-wicket haul propelled PAK Hawks Sharjah (below) to a comprehensive 97-run win over Wesgreen Wolverines in their under-15 match.

    It was the first win of the tournament for the Hawks, having drawn their opener against Our Own Zenith.

    Batting first at Skyline University, opener Sajid and Abdullah Jamshaid stitched together a 51-run partnership for the first wicket.

    Both batsmen fell in quick succession, bringing Zai to the crease with PAK Hawks Sharjah 57-2. Zai played a fluent innings, cross the ropes five times and taking the aerial route on four occasions in his 55-run knock off 30 balls.

    Despite seeing his team-mates Haider Ali (8) and Zain-ul-Islam Awan (2) fall, Zai continued to impress and helped put on a 57-run fifth wicket partnership with Ahmed Yaseen (24) before being caught-and-bowled by Ahmed Kamal.

    With a target of 182, Wesgreen Wolverines had no answer to PAK Hawks Sharjah’s bowling unit, particularly Sajid.

    Having been involved in the top-three dismissals, Sajid then cleaned out the tail-enders in an innings where just three players reach double figures.

    The victory was wrapped up when Syed Zaki was run-out.

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