Pink ball wins favour after first domestic run out in Twenty20 final

ABU DHABI // The pink cricket ball was tested in a domestic match for the first time under the lights of the Zayed Stadium last night and it got the thumbs-up from the game's authorities in the capital at the end of night's play. "It is a step forward for our own domestic game at a time when the MCC is trying it out to play Tests at nights under lights," said Dilawar Mani, chief executive officer of the Emirates Cricket Board and the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club (ADCC).

It is an idea Mani credited Shahnawaz Hakim, the ADCC tournament secretary, with, after signing off on a day game. "Indeed it was a ground-breaking event for us in terms of taking the game a step forward. It has gone well with all the players," Mani said. "Besides, we had these pink balls supplied by own supplier, and hope to use it more often, obviously after receiving the feedback from the players as well as the on-field umpires."

The pink ball was first tested in a match between the touring MCC and an Abu Dhabi XI on February 20. The England and Wales Cricket Board later used it for the first time in their traditional season-opening four-day match between MCC and Durham, the county champions, on March 29, also at the Zayed Stadium. The ball also received positive reviews from Owais Aftab after he bowled his quota of four overs for William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana on their way to a nine-wicket win over United Bank Limited (UBL) in the ADCC Summer League Twenty20 division two final last night. Aftab said: "It was hard to see for a split second when we started, but I would like to think with more games, we'll get used to it. Otherwise it was as good as the red or white ball used for the conventional game."

Qazi Ayub, the UBL captain, however said: "It was an experiment and I didn't find it any different."