Nasir Faraz’s unbeaten 112 lifts Lexington Shotguns from the brink to a three-wicket win

By K.R. Nayar

Sharjah. Nasir Faraz steered Lexington Shotguns to a three-wicket win over UAE Development XI from the brink of defeat through a fighting unbeaten 112 in the 49th Bukhatir League, sponsored by Seven Districts, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Chasing Development XI’s challenging total of 245 in 50 overs, Lexington had slipped to 39 for 5 in 8.3 overs before Faraz, with a knock of 118 balls that included 11 boundaries and two sixes, and No.9 batter Mujahid Amin’s run-a-ball 48 with six boundaries, ensured a stunning victory. Wicketkeeper Ateeq Ur Rehman also chipped in with 29 runs in this exciting display of a fightback victory.

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Development XI, made up of budding youngsters, did everything right until Faraz began to dominate and virtually snatched the match out of their grip. For Development XI, skipper Madhav Manoj Nair top-scored with 50 off 73 balls, including three boundaries. UAE’s promising pacer Yug Sharma gave Lexington a scare with a three-wicket spell for 41 runs, backed by Naseem Khan (2 for 70). Development XI, which has fielded a team for exposure, have repeatedly let games slip away in this league after getting on top. The league has been a lesson for Development XI in their development into a stronger team for next season.

Nasir Faraz receives the Player of the Match award from match referee Tehseen Javed 

This match was a dead rubber as the top two teams from this group — Seven Districts and Z Games Strikers — had already qualified for the semifinals. Still, this encounter was keenly contested from the start. Development XI lost an early wicket when opener Muhammed Ahmed Fahad was caught by Aditya Sarna off Hamdan Mast for 10 in the third over. One-drop Rayan Khan and Ayaan Misbah put on 59 runs for the second wicket before Misbah became skipper Fahad Nawaz’s first of three victims, caught by Usaid Amin for 29. His 34-ball knock included five boundaries.

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Rayan Khan too followed 12 runs later when Nawaz struck again. He was also caught by Usaid Amin, for 38 off 35 balls with eight boundaries. When Nawaz also removed Shalom D’Souza, Development XI slipped to 96 for 4. Skipper Manoj Nair and Prithvi Madhu took the score past the 100-run mark, but Madhu was run out by a throw from Mashal Khan for 6.

Atta and Nair pushed the score to 146 before Atta fell to Usman Pandit, caught by Aditya Sarna for 23. Karan Dhiman did not last long and was dismissed by Mujahid Amin, caught by Aditya for 1. At that point, it was doubtful whether the total would even cross the 200 mark. Nair and Yug Sharma fought hard and took the score to 190 before Nair was trapped leg-before by Usman Pandit for 50.

Sharma and Aliasgar Shum pushed the total to 230 before Sharma was caught and bowled by Hamdan Mast for 16. Nasir Faraz, who would later go on to score a century, ended Shum’s fighting knock of 28. His 31-ball effort contained four boundaries. The Development XI innings were thus restricted to 245 in 49.2 overs.

Chasing the target, Lexington Shotguns began with a 26-run opening partnership between Usman Pandit and skipper Fahad Nawaz. In the fifth over, Yug Sharma picked up the first of his three wickets by having Pandit caught by Nair for 11. At the same score, Nawaz too fell, caught by Shum off Naseem Khan for 14. Usaid Amin hit Naseem Khan for two boundaries in the sixth over to take the score to 38. Yug Sharma struck again to get Faisal Baig caught by Misbah for a duck.

In walked Nasir Faraz, the saviour of the team, with the score reading 38 for 3. He soon saw Usaid Amin depart as well, caught behind by wicketkeeper Muhammad Ahmed off Naseem Khan for 10. Half the Lexington batters were back in the pavilion for just 39 when Aditya Sarna became Yug Sharma’s third victim, caught behind for another duck.

Ateeq Ur Rehman and Faraz began the damage control. They played cautiously, picked up occasional boundaries, and put on 57 runs for the sixth wicket. Karan Dhiman provided the breakthrough by clean bowling Rehman for 29. His 49-ball knock included just two boundaries. The score inched past the 100-run mark in 26 overs with Faraz doing the bulk of the scoring.

UAE Development XI skipper Madhav Manoj Nair with Lexington Shotguns captain Fahad Nawaz during the toss

 
Fazl Naeem provided support, and though he scored only six runs off 22 balls, he helped Faraz take the total to 132. Shum trapped Fazl leg-before for the seventh wicket. Faraz reached his half-century in 63 balls with a boundary off Nirvan Shetty.

Faraz found a reliable partner in Mujahid Amin at this crucial stage. They withstood the pressure and maintained the run flow. Lexington still needed 114 runs to win from 19 overs. Faraz hit Shum for a six in the 34th over and another off Nair in the 37th over. Amin struck Yug Sharma for two boundaries in the 40th over. They took the score past the 200-run mark in the 42nd over.

Faraz reached his century in 105 balls with a boundary off Naseem Khan. Amin hit the winning run and remained unbeaten on 48, while Faraz returned unconquered on 112. Lexington won in 47.1 overs.

Brief scores:
Lexington Shotguns bt UAE Development XI by 3 wkts. UAE Development XI 245 in 49.2 overs (Ayaan Misbah 29, Rayan Khan 38, Madhav Manoj Nair 50, Atta 23, Aliasgar Shums 28, Hamdan Mast 2 for 58, Fahad Nawaz 3 for 28, Usman Pandit 2 for 43) Lexington Shotguns 246 for 7 in 47.1 overs (Nasir Faraz 112n.o, Ateeq Ur Rehman 29, Mujahid Amin 48n.o)
Player of the Match: Nasir Faraz.