Al Faraa got the better of United Bank Limited (UBL) twice in two days and Interface thumped Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) by 74 runs to seal the two remaining semi-final spots in the Ace-Pan Global Group Ramadan Twenty20 Cup.
Having sent UBL packing from the Ramadan Cup in Dubai, Al Faraa proved it was no flash in the pan when they chased down the 160-run target to seal an eight-wicket win at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Naveed Sarwar, who arrived at the crease after the fall of the first wicket at 35, hit a superb 73 not out from 46 deliveries.
He shared a 113-run stand for the second wicket with Gulraiz Sadaf, who struck 58 from 51 balls.
Sarwar hit five boundaries and four sixes while Sadaf struck half-a-dozen fours and a six to guide their team to a semi-final meeting against Alubond Tigers.
Meanwhile, Hafiz Kaleem and Rizwan Rauf scored entertaining half-centuries as Interface posted 200 for six. HAAD in reply could muster only 124 for nine after they were left reeling at 31 for five in the sixth over.
Kaleem’s 38-ball 67 was studded with six fours and four sixes while Rauf smashed nine fours and a six in his 43-ball 64.
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HAAD’s decision to send Interface to bat first seemed to work initially as they had their opener Fahad Tariq (1) removed in the first over.
However Kaleem and Rauf then came together to set the platform for Interface.
Left with a daunting task of scoring over 10 per over, the HAAD top order fell cheaply in their bid to score quick runs.
Mubeen Mughal (38) and Sohail Chatta (49 not out) shared an 80-run partnership for the sixth wicket but that was only a consolation to their team.
Interface will now play Multiplex in the second semi-final.
