Fahad Nawaz's all-round show guides Karwan Blues to an emphatic victory

By K.R. Nayar

Fahad Nawaz, who rose from inter-schools cricket to captain the UAE Under-19 team and then represent the UAE national team, produced an allround show to ensure Karwan Blues an emphatic nine-wicket win over Karwan Strikers. In the 22nd match of the CBFS powered by Fancode T20 tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday, Karwan Blues restricted Karwan Strikers to 130 for 9 and raced to victory through Nawaz’s knock of 66 and his opening partner Ahaan Fernandes’ unconquered 56.  Nawaz also picked two wickets with his left-arm spin.


Karwan Strikers after winning the toss elected to bat. They lost both their openers by the second over. Ameer Hamza was the first to go to the fourth ball of the first over when he got caught behind by wicketkeeper Ashwanth Valthappa off Omid Rahman for a duck. Fayyaz Ahmed fell to the fourth ball of the second over, clean bowled by Asif Hayat for 4.

Ali Khan and Furqan Khalil took the score to 56 by the ninth over before Khan got caught by Karthik Meiyappan at long-off off Mohammed Faraazuddin for 28 runs. His 19-ball knock had four boundaries. Seven runs later, Furqan too fell, stumped by wicketkeeper Ashwanth Valthappa off Fahad Nawaz for 24. Nawaz struck again to take the wicket of Muhammad Usman whose powerful drive landed in the hands of Omid Rahman in deep cover for only 3.


Half the side were back in the dug-out for 64 by the 12th over. Kashif Daud and Tariq Mehmood held on to add 29 runs for the sixth wicket. Karthik Meiyappan had Daud caught by Omair Ali for 19. To push Karwan Strikers into further trouble, Mohammed Faraazuddin had Muhammad Farooq caught behind for 6. This was followed by the fall of Tariq Mehmood who withstood the attack to score 23 runs but got bowled by Meiyappan. All hopes of the score reaching the 150-run mark faded when Ahmed Shafiq was run out Fahaw Nawaz for 5. In the end, Karwan Strikers could muster only 130 for 9 in 20 overs.


Chasing the target, Ahaan Fernandes opened with Fahad Nawaz. They kept scoring freely. The opening partnership lasted 129 runs till Nawaz got trapped leg before by Ahmed Shafiq. Nawaz's knock off 52 balls had five boundaries and a six. Fernandes hit an unbeaten 56 off 53 balls with seven boundaries and took Karwan Blues to the target in 18.2 overs.

Fahad Nawaz, who produced an allround show, said: “I got good support from Ahaan and we played according to a plan. I am happy I contributed with the ball too taking wickets and getting runs. I dedicate this Man of the Match award to my family who have always supported me to do well.”

Karwan Blues team manager Zubair Sheikh is delighted with his team's emphatic win. “It was a good win and Blues are doing well. We just need one more win out of the two games to confirm a semifinal slot.”

Brief scores:
Karwan Blues bt Karwan Strikers by 9 wkts.  Karwan Strikers 130 for 9 in 20 overs (Ali Khan 28. Furqan Khalil 24, Tariq Mehmood 23, Mohammed Faraazuddin 2 for 24, Fahad Nawaz 2 for 16, Karthik Meiyappan 2 for 37)  Karwan Blues 133 for 1 in 18.2 overs (Ahaan Fernandes 56n.o, Fahad Nawaz 66)
Man of the Match: Fahad Nawaz.

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