The Cambridge High School retained the UAE Exchange Centre Abu Dhabi Inter-school Under-19 cricket title for a fourth year in a row following a resounding 52-run win over Abu Dhabi Indian School (ADIS).
They were the clear favourites with three UAE U19 internationals – Moiz Qazi, Mohammed Riyan and Yodhin Punja – in their side, and they lived up to that top billing in the final on Sunday at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Riyan stroked a breezy 52, and with his opening partner, Justin D’Souza, provided the perfect platform by sharing 104-run stand in 12 overs for Cambridge to post 160 for five.
ADIS in reply were bowled out for 108 in 18.2 overs.
Riyan smashed eight fours in his 39-ball stay at the crease, and D’Souza fell two short of his half century. They both fell to catches in the deep while trying to hit the ball out of the ground.
Bikramjeet Singh provided the early breakthrough by removing the ADIS opener Jonathan Figy (7) when the score was 20 and then Punja’s double strike left them 29 for three in five overs from which point Cambridge took full control of the match.
“In terms of the players, we possessed a stronger side as most of us are members of the Zayed Cricket Academy and have been training regularly for the past six years,” said Qazi, the Cambridge captain.
“Of course the school, particularly our principal [Jason King] has been very supportive. Today he arranged busloads of our schoolmates to attend the final and that was good motivation for us.”
Tournament facts
The Cambridge High School 160 for 5 in 20 overs (Mohammed Riyan 52, Justin D'Souza 48, Jonathan Figy 2-16, Anson Quadros 2-23)
Abu Dhabi Indian School 108 all out in 18.2 overs (Abhishek Prakash 23, Mohammed Israfil 21, Yodhin Punja 2-23, Bikramjeet Singh 2-26)
Man of the match – Mohammed Riyan (Cambridge)
Best Bowler – Rehan Azam (15 wickets, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Pakistan School)
Best Batsman – Mohammed Riyan (225 runs, Cambridge)
Man of the Tournament – Anson Quadros (126 runs and 12 wickets, Abu Dhabi Indian School)
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