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Dubai: ETA Ascon Star cricket team defied Dubai's traffic jam and beat Emirates Islamic Bank to lift the Dulsco Corporate Cup at the Zabeel Park cricket ground on Tuesday evening.
ETA were forced to field with only eight players as four others were stuck in traffic.
"We lost the toss and had to field. Our bowlers did a great job with only eight fielders and restricted Emirates Islamic Bank batsmen. It was nothing but team effort that won us the title," ETA team captain G. Ramesh told Gulf News.
Despite being short of fielders they still they effected three run outs.
Emirates Islamic Bank lost their opener and skipper Asim Kaleem through a run out for five.
His partner Azhar Gul was also run out for 27. They lost wickets at regular intervals and at one stage slipped to 66 for five.
Emirates Islamic Bank would have been shot out for a lower score but for their No.9 batsman Usman's unbeaten 29. Rashid and Amjad Ali bowled a tight length and took two wickets each to restrict the bankmen to 116 for 9.
For ETA, who had registered the highest score of the tournament when they piled up 317 runs in 20 overs, the target of 119 was too easy to achieve.
Their openers began in a whirlwind style. Anirudh Sompally, who went on to bag the best batsman of the tournament award, hit 16 runs in a flash before being caught behind by wicketkeeper Azhar off Naveed's delivery.
Amjad Rasheed joined Abdeen and together they tore the Emirates Islamic Bank attack to put on 98 unbeaten runs. They picked the gaps beautifully and swelled the total.
While Abdeen played second fiddle, Rasheed went for his shots. Rasheed remained unbeaten on 62 while Abdeen scored an unconquered 29.
ETA reached the target in 14.1 overs to record a creditable nine-wicket win.
It was indeed disappointing for the Emirates Islamic Bank, who had reached two finals this year. They also lost in the final of Ajman Ramadan tournament and here.
Great achievement
"We entered in four tournaments this year and finished runners up in two. For a team which was formed only two years ago it is indeed a great achievement," remarked Asim Kaleem, skipper of the Emirates Islamic Bank.
"We are all bank employees and finding time to play is difficult. Yet we are happy we have done well. We have learned a lot from this season and hope to do well next year," added Kaleem.
Twenty-year-old Anirudh Sompally of ETA, who won the best batsman of the tournament award, had scored 171 runs. His teammate Mohammad Imran, who took 14 wickets, bagged the best bowler award.
Haroon Rashid of Emrill, scored 151 runs and took nine wickets to walk away with the Player of the tournament award.
John Neale, Managing Director of Dulsco gave away the prizes in the presence of Johnson Alexander, the Human Resource Director and Dubai Cricket Council officials Abdul Razzaque Kazim and Alawi Sukri.
This was the seventh edition of the tournament.
Scores
ETA Ascon Star beat Emirates Islamic Bank by 9 wkts. EIB 116 for 9 (Usman Saleem 29 n.o, Azhar Gul 27, Amjad 2 for 23, Rashid 2 for 29)
ETA Ascon Star 117 for 1 in 14.1 overs (Amjad Rasheed 62 n.o, Abdeen 29). Man of the final: Amjad Rasheed.
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