Aftab Javed’s blazing 120 gives sponsors Seven Districts a winning start

By K.R. Nayar

Sharjah. The Seven Districts Cricket Academy, sponsors of the 49th Bukhatir League, got off to a winning start at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium by chasing down a steep target of 291 to beat Lexington Shotguns by four wickets. Their middle-order batter Aftab Javed scored a blazing 120 off just 97 balls, smashing 14 boundaries and four sixes, while opener Zainullah set the tempo with 67 off 88 balls, including nine boundaries.

Aftab Javed receives the Player of the Match award from match referee Tehseen Javed 

Lexington, who were asked to bat first, paid the price for a poor start that prevented them from posting a total in excess of 300. Middle-order batter Faisal Baig hit a fluent 82 off 96 balls with 12 boundaries, while Muhammad Asif contributed 49 off 73 balls with three boundaries and two sixes. Together, they stitched a crucial 114-run stand for the sixth wicket. Later, Tahir Zaman played a breezy knock of 55 off 27 balls, hitting five boundaries and four sixes. Despite these efforts, it wasn’t enough to overcome the batting strength of Seven Districts.

Sponsors Seven Districts off to winning start 

Accurate bowling from Mohammad Irfan played a pivotal role in restricting Lexington to 290 for 8 in 50 overs. He claimed 3 for 69, including the early breakthrough of trapping opener Ateeq Ur Rehman leg-before for 5 in the fourth over. Usaid Amin attempted to counterattack, hitting Irfan for three boundaries in the sixth over, including two consecutive ones. However, Irfan bounced back by dismissing Usman Pandit, caught by Aftab Javed for 15, and Nasir Faraz, caught behind by Syed Haider Shah for a duck. By the 10th over, Lexington had lost three wickets for just 44 runs.

Zainullah who set the tempo through 67 runs

To make matters worse for Lexington, Nabeel Aziz removed the well-set Usaid Amin for 21. Faisal Baig responded by hitting Aziz for two consecutive boundaries, and Muhammad Asif followed suit against Aftab Javed. When Baig struck Irfan Yousafzai for three boundaries in the 22nd over, Lexington crossed the 100-run mark.

Baig brought up his half-century in 54 balls, launching a six off Wahab Hassan and following it with a boundary. By the 32nd over, Lexington had surpassed 150. Ibraheem Masood broke the partnership by trapping Asif leg-before for 49, and Lahiru Sandaruwan ended Baig’s fine knock of 82 by having him caught by Wahab Hassan in the 43rd over.

Yousafzai then dismissed Gopakumar Gopalakrishnan, caught behind by Farman Ali for 26. Zaman took charge late in the innings, hitting Sandaruwan for a six and a four in the 47th over, and then smashing Yousafzai for two consecutive boundaries in the next. He also punished Irfan for two sixes and a boundary in the 49th over to reach his fifty in just 25 balls. Zaman eventually fell for 55, caught behind off Yousafzai in the final over.

In reply, Seven Districts began their chase confidently, with openers Zainullah and Muhammad Irfan putting on 55 runs in 10 overs. Irfan was the first to go, caught by Pandit off Gopalakrishnan for 23. Gopalakrishnan then dismissed one-drop batter Ahmed Tariq, caught by Shoaib Khan for 1.

Aftab Javed joined the fluent Zainullah and gradually took control of the innings. Zainullah brought up his half-century in 71 balls but was dismissed on 66, caught by Gopalakrishnan off Muhammad Mohsin. Syed Haider Shah followed soon after, bowled by Amin for 6.

Aftab Javed with the Player  of the Match trophy. Click cricketlovers.com for indepth coverage of the 49th Bukhatir League 

Javed celebrated his fifty by hitting Tahir Zaman for three consecutive boundaries in the 32nd over. With Farman Ali playing a steady supporting role, Javed continued to dominate. He brought up his century in 84 balls in the 40th over and then hit two sixes off Zaman in the 42nd, pushing the game out of Lexington’s reach.

Javed was eventually dismissed for 120, caught behind off Pandit, leaving Seven Districts needing just 31 more runs from seven overs. Despite the late wicket of Farman Ali for 36, Lahiru Sandaruwan (14 not out) and Tharindu Perera (15not out) guided Seven Districts to victory in 48.4 overs.

Brief scores:
The Seven Districts Cricket Academy bt Lexington Shortguns by 4 wkts. Lexington Shortguns 290 for 8 in 50 overs (Faisal Baig 82, Muhammad Asif 49, Gopakumar Gopalakrishnan 26, Tahir Zaman 55, Muhammad Irfan 3 for 69. Irfan Yousafzai 2 for 59) The Seven Districts Cricket Academy 291 for 6 (Zainullah 67, Muhammad Irfan 23, Aftab Javed 120, Farman Ali 36, Gopakumar Gopalakrishnan 2 for 49)
Player of the Match: Aftab Javed