14 April 2006 Rais Hassan Saadi team clinch shipping trophy
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DUBAI — The ninth Annual Shipping Trophy, jointly organised by Barwil, Rais Hassan Saadi and Scan-trans Chartering, came to a dramatic end with Rais Hassan Saadi (RHS) successfully defending their title against Gulf Agency (GAC) in a closely contested final recently.
RHS defeated GAC by six runs, and in doing so notched up their third consecutive Shipping Trophy title.
RHS won the toss and elected to bat first. In spite of the constant pressure applied by GAC through some tight bowling and energetic fielding, RHS batsmen put on an excellent display of stroke-play to reach a respectable 107 for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 15 overs. Top scorers for RHS were Naved with 35 runs (19 balls) and Pavan with 31 runs (24 balls). Clifford of GAC took 3 wickets for 11 runs in 3 overs.
In response, GAC got off to an excellent start but the run-chase was hindered by some excellent fielding by the RHS team. GAC always looked like achieving the stiff target until a succession of run-outs saw them slump to 93 for 8 in 12 overs. The pressure of the climbing required run-rate and the disciplined bowling of RHS proved too much for the GAC tail, which succumbed six runs short of the target. Amir and Erick of RHS each took two wickets and Sunil of GAC scored 20 runs.
The ninth Shipping Trophy saw some excellent cricket under the floodlights of the DCC cricket grounds. For his consistent performance with both bat and ball, and for ensuring that his team made the semifinals, Varuna of AMI was adjudged ‘Man of the Tournament’. The award for the ‘Best Batsman’ went to Pavan of RHS and Mithila of RHS was awarded the ‘Best Bowler’ award. The ‘Super 6’s’ award for most sixes went to Naved of RHS and the Shipping Trophy Committee awarded the Runner-up trophy to AMI.
08 December, 2005 Mithila spells Lanka Lions win
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Mithila Rajapaksha returned a stunning four-wicket haul for just nine runs as Alico Lanka Lions defeated Transgulf CC by 23 runs in another match of the tournament, organised by the Sharjah Cricket Council and supported by AJ Sports and Gillette Blue II Excel.
Mithila Rajapaksha snapped four wickets for just nine runs as Alico Lanka Lions, defending a total of 141 for seven, restricted Transgulf to 118 for nine.
Alico Lanka Lions, batting first, had built their innings around Marlon Fernando (48 off 39 balls with four fours), Sujeewa de Silva (26 not out off 24 balls with two fours) and Eranga Jayasekara (24 off 25 balls). Vinod was the most successful Transgulf bowler, taking three wickets for 20 runs.
Transgulf CC, in reply, played with determination, but their efforts weren't enough to overhaul the Lanka Lions' total. Bimal (37 off 30 balls with three fours and one six), Sumantao (23 off 16 balls with two fours and one six) and Janaki Raman (14 not out off 18 balls) made good starts to their innings, but failed to provide the finishing touch. Mithila Rajapaksha and Shaheen Perera teamed up well, sharing six wickets to ensure a fine victory for Lanka Lions.
Lanka Lions beat Transgulf by 23 runs
Lanka Lions 141 for 7 in 20 over
(Marlon 48, Eranga 24, Sujeewa 26*, Vinod 3 for 20)
Transgulf 118 for 9 in 20 over
(Bimal 37, Sumantho 23, Shaheen 2 for 20, Mithila 4 for 9)
Man of the Match : Mithila of Lanka Lions
08 December, 2005 Lanka Lions clinch thriller
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Oshada Warnapura smashed a solid 89 to steer Alico Lanka Lions to a thrilling two-run victory over a fighting Seven Seas side in the 18th Sharjah Ramadan twenty20 floodlit cricket tournament for the CSS Homeward Bound Cup at the Sharjah stadium on Monday night.
The match between Lanka Lions and Seven Seas turned out to be a highly entertaining affair as it produced as many as 372 runs in 40 overs before the issue was decided on the last ball of the match.
Lanka Lions, batting first, scored a challenging 187 for four in the allotted 20 overs. Warnapura spearheaded the batting assault, hitting a fluent 89 off 54 balls with nine fours and three sixes. Basheer Bongso joined the party, weighing in with an equally aggressive 46 off 31 balls with five fours and one six. Another valuable contribution from Pradeep Chandana (23 off 24 balls) meant Lanka Lions finishing their innings with a great sense of satisfaction.
Veteran Freddy Sidwa, almost 60 plus, bowled pretty well under the circumstances, conceding just 18 runs for his one-wicket haul. Tariq (one for 19) and Israr Butt (one for 33) were the other wicket takers.
Seven Seas, in reply, were in no mood to throw in the towel. Their batsmen, led by Irfan Dar and Khalid, staged a compelling fight-back and nearly clinched the high-scoring thriller, but were bowled out for 185 on the last ball of their innings.
Irfan and Khalid, batting with conviction and determination, prospered in solid innings. Irfan made 74 off just 48 balls with four fours and four sixes while Khalid's 50 off 31 balls contained six fours and one six. Their best efforts, however, proved in vain as Lanka Lions survived some anxious moments to scramble home. Mithila Rajapaksha (three for 35) and Shahane Perera (two for 26) were the most successful bowlers.
Lanka Lions beat Seven Seas Strikers by 2 runs
Lanka Lions 187 for 4 in 20 over
(Oshada 89, Bongso 46, Pradeep 24)
Seven Seas Strikers 186 for 9 in 20 over
(Irfan Dar 74, Khalid 50, Shahane 2 for 46, Mithila 3 for 35)
Man of the Match : Oshada of Lanka Lions
