Inevitability reigns as Maybury Lanka lifts Gemini Cup

BY : SYED WASEEM AFZAL.
Perennial players, Maybury Lanka CC continued their dream run and produced a thoroughly professional performance to demolish ECT ‘A’ by a whopping margin of 130 runs on Tuesday in an absolute lop-sided final of the Gemini Cup for U-15 Academies being played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Final Match Photo Gallery | Meet the teams |

The tournament was sponsored by Shetty International and organized by Emirates Cricket Training & Pratham International under the auspices of the Sharjah Cricket Council.

The tournament was also supported by uaecricket.com, Wild Wadi, City FM, Lipton, Al Marai, Power House, AHA Trading, Fresh Fruit Co., Balloon Lady, Oasis Mineral Water, Pepsi, Embee International, Doctor Medical Center, Mister Baker, United Color Film, Gulf Technical Printing Press and Winner Sports, Nargis Studio.

After the fireworks of the matches preceding this, the final was a huge anti-climax affair as Maybury Lanka CC batted forcefully and then hammered home the advantage when their bowlers ran through the host’s batting like a dose of salts. They were as clinically efficient as they normally were through out the tournament with a lethal effort that stretched their winning streak to five successive games.

In pursuit of a challenging victory target of 216, ECT ‘A’ got off to a reasonably good start when they reached 34 with openers Aashish Dhingra (20 off 21 balls with 3fours) and Prathveer Rai (14 off 37 balls) looking all but determined.

However, the indomitable Lankans displayed uncompromising application while bowling and fielding and didn’t allow the game to get out of their hands with a series of blows that effectively ripped the stuffing out of ECT ‘A’.

In a collapse of horrendous proportions, ECT ‘A’ surrendered 5 wickets for the addition of a mere 4 runs that left them reeling at a treacherous 51 for 5 that provided a hint of an indication of how clinical the opposition was.

Taymoor Khalil, whose often a ball of energy though tried his best to ward off crises but his nimble effort off an unbeaten 18 runs was far too lacking as the Lankan bowlers packed enough of a punch to shoot out ECT ‘A’ for 85 in 24.3 overs.

Ashan Warnakula (2 for 10) and AShan Perera (2 for 14) first combined to boomerang the middle order before Shalinda (3 for 11) knocked off the tail.

Earlier, Maybury Lanka CC definitely was anything but at its finest and batted to their reputed capability to gallop to a formidable total of 215 for 3 in the allotted 30 overs.

Opener Praneeth (92 off 67 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes) emerged as the hero of the final with an emphatic display of meaningful batting. Maintaining his rich vein of form, Praneeth held the fort with purpose and panache when he added 71 runs for the opening wicket with Andri Rafaelo (17 off 21 balls with 2 fours), who fortunately for the rivals missed out on the big day.

There was too much at stake and Praneeth knew the significance when he batted with all the regal brilliance and formed the crux of the innings by orchestrating a dashing 89-run stand for the second wicket with Ashen Silva, who too exhibited his mastery in batting with a rollicking 59 off 61 balls with 4 fours.

In a late spurt, Shalinda (18 not out) and Ashen Perera (14 not out) pummeled the runs to swell the total to dizzy height as none of the bowlers really managed to come good when it mattered the most.

Click Here for Brief Scorecard.

Tuesday, April 06, 2004.
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