• Mohammed Usman hit the winning run for ECB Blues against Fujairah in the final of the Emirates D10. All pictures Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Mohammed Usman hit the winning run for ECB Blues against Fujairah in the final of the Emirates D10. All pictures Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • ECB Blues win the Emirates D10 after the final against Fujairah in Dubai
    ECB Blues win the Emirates D10 after the final against Fujairah in Dubai
  • Fujairah's Waseem Muhammad takes the wicket of Blues' Muhammad Boota
    Fujairah's Waseem Muhammad takes the wicket of Blues' Muhammad Boota
  • Blue's Kashif Daud in action
    Blue's Kashif Daud in action
  • Fujairah's Waseem Muhammad takes the wicket of Blues' Muhammad Boota
    Fujairah's Waseem Muhammad takes the wicket of Blues' Muhammad Boota
  • Blue's Muhammad Boota bats
    Blue's Muhammad Boota bats
  • Fujairah's Luqman Hazrat runs out Blues' Rohan Mustafa
    Fujairah's Luqman Hazrat runs out Blues' Rohan Mustafa
  • Fujairah's Luqman Hazrat runs out Blues' Rohan Mustafa
    Fujairah's Luqman Hazrat runs out Blues' Rohan Mustafa
  • Fujairah's Luqman Hazrat bats during the game
    Fujairah's Luqman Hazrat bats during the game
  • Fujairah's Luqman Hazrat bats during the game
    Fujairah's Luqman Hazrat bats during the game
  • Fujairah's Luqman Hazrat in action
    Fujairah's Luqman Hazrat in action
  • Blues' Adhitya Shetty bowls
    Blues' Adhitya Shetty bowls
  • Blues' Rohan Mustafa takes the wicket of Fujairah's Rishab Mukherjee
    Blues' Rohan Mustafa takes the wicket of Fujairah's Rishab Mukherjee
  • Blues' Muhammad Boota runs out Fujairah's Basil Hameed
    Blues' Muhammad Boota runs out Fujairah's Basil Hameed
  • Blues' Sultan Ahmad takes the wicket of Fujairah's Iqrar Shah
    Blues' Sultan Ahmad takes the wicket of Fujairah's Iqrar Shah
  • Blues' Muhammad Ayaz takes the wicket of Fujairah's Ali Shan Sharafu
    Blues' Muhammad Ayaz takes the wicket of Fujairah's Ali Shan Sharafu

Mohammed Usman hits the winning run in dramatic Emirates D10 finale


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

The first Emirates D10 tournament ended with a thrilling last-ball finish on Friday night.

Mohammed Usman hit the winning single off the last ball as ECB Blues finally ended the challenge of Fujairah Pacific Ventures.

The ECB side is largely made up of UAE national team players, and as such they were the favourites before the 10-over tournament started.

When it came to the final, it appeared as though they were going to stroll to the title, as they had their opposition 51 for six midway through the seventh over.

Mohammed Ayaz and Sultan Ahmed took two wickets apiece, while young leg-spinner Adhitya Shetty went for just seven from his two overs.

Luqman Hazrat gave Fujairah something to bowl at, though, as he struck an unbeaten 30 from 14 balls at the end of the innings to lift his side to 92 for six.

The same man, in partnership with Sanchit Sharma, then gave the underdogs even more belief with a thrifty spell with the ball.

In the third over, the ECB side were 16 for three, with all of their batting stars Vriitya Aravind, Chirag Suri and Rohan Mustafa already sent back to the cavernous dressing rooms at Dubai International Stadium.

Usman and Mohammed Boota, who made 31 from 17 balls, then shared the decisive partnership.

With one needed to win off the last ball, Usman hit Mohammed Wasim to deep mid-wicket to clinch the Dh5,000 first prize for the Blues.

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5