Z Games Strikers’ Muhammad Azhar’s four-wicket spell strikes down Lexington Shotguns

By K.R. Nayar

Sharjah. A deadly four-wicket strike from left-arm spinner Muhammad Azhar helped Z Games Strikers strike down Lexington Shotguns by 57 runs in the 49th Bukhatir League, sponsored by Seven Districts, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Lexington were restricted to 270 in 44.4 overs, thanks to Azhar, who drew on his experience of playing over a decade in domestic cricket to strike repeatedly during his ten-over spell, giving away 51 runs. Games Strikers had posted 327 runs through fine knocks from all their top batters after openers — skipper Ronak Panoly (65) and Alishan Sharafu (58) — set the stage for a huge total through a 110-run partnership.

Muhammad Azhar receives the Player of the Match trophy from match referee Tehseen Javed 

The strength of Z Games Strikers has been their batters, who consistently contribute — especially young Aryan Saxena (47), Aayan Afzal Khan (39), Ahaan Fernandes (44), and Taimoor Ali (31). Put into bat, they went about their task of posting a big total. Chasing the target, Lexington’s middle-order batters clicked, with Usaid Amin top-scoring with 53, Nasir Faraz hitting 47, and Aditya Sharma scoring 52 runs. Azhar kept providing breakthroughs when most needed.

Muhammad Azhar with the Player of the Match award. Click cricketlovers.com for detailed coverage of the 49th Bukhatir League 

The tale of strike bowler Azhar

Muhammad Azhar has always been a match-winner. Hailing from Sialkot, Azhar — who had played alongside Pakistan allrounder Shoaib Malik — has produced many memorable spells in the Bukhatir League and has bagged several 'Best Bowler of the Tournament' awards. “I played with and against many of Pakistan’s top players in domestic cricket. I regularly played in the Under-19 team for the region and in List A, Grade 2, and first-class matches there. I represented the famous Sialkot Stallions team before coming to the UAE nearly 10 years ago and have performed consistently. Thanks to Allah, the Z Games team has been lucky for me.”

Khalaf Bukhatir presents the best bowler award to Muhammad Azhar for a CBFS tournament. Yours sincerely is next to Azhar. 

The author of many five-wicket spells over the years, Azhar does not remember the dates of his top performances. All he knows is his best spell. “I once produced a spell of ten overs, two maidens, six wickets for 19 runs in the Bukhatir League. I have many trophies for best bowler and have delivered whenever captains wanted me to take wickets. Two years ago, I performed in almost every match but did not get noticed by the authorities. What I have been doing since then is to keep performing consistently.”

Z Games Strikers’ skipper Panoly decided to promote himself as opener for this match. His decision proved useful as he turned out to be a solid partner for the consistent and prolific Alishan Sharafu. Panoly scored his first boundary in the opening over from Haris. Sharafu struck two consecutive boundaries and added another off the last ball of the second over from Zohair Iqbal. He also hit consecutive boundaries off Haris. While Sharafu kept the boundaries flowing, Panoly hit a six off Haris. Sharafu reached his half-century in just 27 balls.

Skipper Panoly on his knock and the win

The pair put on 110 runs in 13.1 overs when Mujahid Amin clean-bowled Sharafu for 58. His 34-ball knock had 13 boundaries. Speaking about the partnership and his decision to bat up the order, Panoly said: “It was a must-win to qualify and I had to step up and deliver. I’m glad I could get some runs which helped the team at the end of the day. It was hot, but our energy throughout the day was phenomenal, and we deserved that win.”

Skipper Ronak Panoly.. fine captain's knock 

After Sharafu departed, another consistent run-getter Lovepreet Bajwa joined Panoly. They added 24 runs for the second wicket before Fahad Nawaz had Panoly caught by Usaid Amin for 65. His 60-ball knock included 10 boundaries and a six. Bajwa was dismissed when the score was three short of the 150 mark, caught by Amin again off Nawaz for 11.

Points table at the end of Sunday's match 

Taimoor Ali and Ahaan Fernandes maintained the run flow. While Ahaan hit a six off Nawaz in the 27th over, Taimoor struck a boundary and a six off Tahir Zaman in the 28th over. The score went past the 200-run mark in the 32nd over. This pair put on 62 runs before Faisal Baig had Taimoor caught by substitute Shoaib Khan for 31. His 41-ball knock had three boundaries and a six.

Z Games skipper Ronak Panoly with  Lexington Shotguns skipper Fahad Nawaz during the toss

Next batter Aryan Saxena, as usual, began fluently. He hit Usman Pandit for a six in the 36th over. Pandit struck in the 38th over to get Ahaan out for 44, caught by Aditya Sarna. His 65-ball knock included three boundaries and two sixes. Saxena opened out and hit Pandit for a six, and then Mujahid Amin for another. Aayan Afzal Khan hit two successive boundaries off Tahir Zaman in the 44th over. Saxena, with two consecutive boundaries off Amin, steered his team past the 300-run mark in the 47th over. He fell for 47 off 31 balls, with three boundaries and three sixes, caught by Sarna off Amin.

Afzal Khan too fell to Zaman for 39 off 35 balls with two boundaries and two sixes, caught by Sarna. The top-order show ensured Z Games posted 327 for 8 in 50 overs.

Chasing 328, Lexington did not start strongly like Z Games Strikers. They lost opener Ateeq Ur Rehman, trapped leg-before by Zahid Ali for 5. Zeeshan Naseer bowled brilliantly, producing a maiden in the eighth over. He then trapped Usman Pandit, who had been among the runs, leg-before for 18.

Usaid Amin refused to be affected by Pandit’s dismissal and hit Naseer for a six in the same over. Nasir Faraz too settled quickly. Amin raced to his half-century in 56 balls before Afzal Khan clean-bowled him for 53. His knock included six boundaries and a six. Amin and Faraz had added 87 runs for the third wicket.

Soon, skipper Panoly tossed the ball to Muhammad Azhar, who delivered in his fourth over. Azhar removed Faraz — who was stroking freely and was three short of a half-century — caught by Taimoor. His 54-ball knock included five boundaries and two sixes.

Azhar struck again in the 29th over to dismiss Fahad Nawaz, caught by Naseer for 11. With half the side out for 167, Aditya Sarna began to counterattack. He hit Naseer for a six and a boundary in the 32nd over, and in the 34th over, he struck two consecutive boundaries again off Naseer. Faisal Baig and Sarna added 53 runs for the sixth wicket before Shahid Bhutta struck, having Baig caught behind by wicketkeeper Yash Sabnani for 24.

Sarna reached his half-century in 45 balls, but after adding just two more runs, Bhutta bowled him. His 49-ball knock included four boundaries and three sixes. By the 40th over, Lexington were 232 for 7. Muhammad Azhar removed Tahir Zaman, clean-bowled for 8 in the 41st over. In the 43rd over, he dismissed Zohair Iqbal — who had hit 21 off 13 balls with three sixes — caught by substitute Abdullah for his fourth wicket. Bajwa then ran out last man Mujahid Amin for 12, bowling out Lexington for 270 runs.

Brief scores:
Z Games Strikers bt Lexington Shotguns by 57 runs. Z Games Strikers 327 for 8 in 50 overs (Ronak Panoly 65, Alishan Sharafu 58, Ahaan Fernandes 44, Taimoor Ali 31, Aryan Saxena 47, Aayan Afzal Khan 39, Tahir Zaman 2 for 56, Fahad Nawaz 2 for 46) Lexington Shotguns 270 in 44.4 overs (Usaid Amin 53, Nasir Faraz 47, Aditya Sarna 52, Faisal Baig 24, Zohair Iqbal 21, Shahid Bhutta 2 for 38, Muhammad Azhar 4 for 51)
Player of the Match: Muhammad Azhar