Fawad, Zia sink Spencer Academy

BY : SYED WASEEM AFZAL.
Mohd Fawad laid the foundations with a devastating bowling display and Sameer Zia capitalized on the gains with a masterly knock as Emirates Cricket Board Select XI put it across touring Surrey side, Spencer Club Academy by 4 wickets in a tense 50-over friendly game played at the Sharjah cricket Stadium yesterday.

The decision to bat first on winning the toss backfired badly for Spencer Club Academy when they lost openers Tom Billingham and Tom Askew early on and further trouble awaited them when skipper Niel Bakers departed to leave the visitors reeling at a precarious 11 for 3.

It was Fawad (5-5-0-3), who was at the heart of destruction. Bowling with verve and a lot of fire, he tore through the top order and coupled with the cruel run out of Abid Jaffery (5), Spencer Club Academy were soon looking at the wrong end of the barrel at 51 for 4 by the 25th over.

However, there was some cheer in the visitor’s camp when Hussain Jaffery (21) and Luke Billingham (21) rescued the floundering innings with some bold play. The talented duo put bat to the ball in their uncomplicated manners and added some sanity to the innings before Hassan Jaffery provided some solidity and spark with a gutsy 40 off 59 balls with 3 fours and a six.

Hassan’s obdurate stroke play spurred the visitor’s to a somewhat respectable 122 all out in 48.2 overs.

Undaunted by the small target on the board, Spencer Club Academy fought gallantly and had the home team on the rope when Chevy Green (3 for 17) bowled fiercely to get rid of opener Arif Yousuf (0), Bukhatir (4) and Abdullah Hanif (10) in quick succession.

With the home team in a spot of bother, Sameer Zia (44 not out) rose to the challenge and anchored the innings with a master display of cheeky cricket.

Man of the match Sameer Zia pulled the team out of the woods with a fine 52-run stand for the fifth wicket with Khurram (23) before teaming up with Shoaib Sarwar (12 not out) for a 30-run unbroken seventh wicket stand to ensure victory in 29.4 overs for the loss of 6 wickets.

Brief Scores :
ECB Select XI beat Spencer Club Academy by 4 wickets
Spencer XI 122 all out in 48.2 overs (Hassan Jaffery 40, Fawad 3 for 0, Waleed Bukhatir 2 for 11)
ECB Select XI 123 for 6 in 29.4 overs (Sameer Zia 44n.o, Chevy Green 3 for 17, Hassan Jaffery 2 for 14).
Man of the match: Sameer Zia.

Sunday, December 28, 2003.
source : © UAEcricket.com.