From STUMP VISION -  The Final Week & FINALS

 RasGas Lift Fourth Chairman’s Cricket Cup Dukhan

Conducted under the umbrella of the Community Services Department and the Dukhan Sports Committee, the seven week long tournament finally came to a conclusion with the prize distribution ceremony held on the ground after the finals played between RasGas and QAFCO. It was presided over by the Senior QP Dukhan Management including Mr. Said Mubarak Said Al-Mohannadi DIRECTOR OPERATIONS, Mr. Ahmad Saif Ahmad Al-Sulaiti OPERATIONS MANAGER - DUKHAN FIELDS, Mr.Misfer Al Bidaiwi  Manager GAS RECYCLING Department, Mr. Khalid  Al-Sahlawi MANAGER COMMUNITY SERVICES, Mr. Sultan  Al-Abdulla, President Dukhan Sports Committee, Mr. Manzoor Ahmed Secretary Qatar Cricket Association and other QCA officials. The Winner’s Trophy was presented to RasGas skipper Adnan Shaikh by the Director Operations while the Runner’s Up Trophy was presented to QAFCO skipper Nawaz Akram by the Operations  Manager. Medals were distributed to all the players.

RasGas, the champions, remained undefeated throughout the tournament and beat QAFCO in the finals to lift the cup. Batting first, RasGas piled up 132 for 9 in 20 overs. They lost wickets at regular intervals with only Ibrahim Khan who stayed till the 16th over, making 32. Imtiaz of QAFCO returned one of the best analyses of the tournament by claiming 5 wickets for 17 runs of 4 overs, which included a hat-trick. When QAFCO came in to bat, they found the going difficult. Requiring a run-rate of 6 runs an over, they went for the big shots and started losing wickets. This built up the pressure and the required run-rate climbed. Only Shahid played steadily till the 19th over, making 29. Finally the QAFCO innings folded in the last over for 84 giving RasGas a victory by 48 runs. Nine wickets were shared equally by Saeed, Fahim and Amir while Desai claimed two wickets.

The prizes for the best performances during the preliminary stages of the tournament included the best fielder Abdul Karim Anzar of QVC, best bowler Mohinuddin Badshah of Dukhan Community, best batsman Aijaz Ali Daudpota of QP Refinery and the best all-rounder Rizwan Ali Pawne of Dukhan Operations.

Earlier on the preceding Friday, all the teams played their last match of the Super Fours to try to make it into the Finals. The first match between QP NGL and QAFCO was almost a non-starter. Needing a near impossible run rate, QP NGL, won the toss and tried to build a huge total. In the process they only ended up losing wickets and only 50 runs on the board. QAFCO gave some batting exposure to their lower order players, made the required runs in 12.1 overs, losing 7 wickets in the bargain and qualifying for the finals. Farooq Ahmed of QAFCO with 4 wickets was man of the match. Ashok Patkar and Mahesh for NGL took 3 wickets each.

The match between QP DT and QVC was another exercise in futility with only pride to play for. QAFCO having already qualified earlier had driven out the chance for QP DT, and the match was only of academic interest. QVC made 65 with Murli making 17 and Hidayat 24. Riyaz took 3 wickets. QP DT made the required runs in 11.3 overs with Riyaz making 32. Hidayat took 4 wickets and finally made the finish line for man of the match. Murthy took 3 catches.

The match between QEWC and QP IT was interesting. Batting first, QEWC, took their task seriously for a huge run rate and ended up making 116. Fiaz Ahmed made 38 and Shabli Raza made 35. Farhan Mirza took 3 wickets. And then came the scare. Not for QP IT but for RasGas and Dukhan Operations. QP IT lost quick wickets, one after another, and were in danger of being bowled out for a very low score, possibly the lowest of the tournament. This would have given QEWC a big run rate margin. But the rot was stemmed by Arun Sashidhar who made 25 and Raheem Shah. Finally QP IT ended up at 53. This was not good enough for QEWC even if Dukhan Operations had beaten RasGas in the next match, which anyway was not to happen.

The local spectators thronged the stands to support their team in the last match. Dukhan Operations needed to beat RasGas  to make the Finals and a run rate to overcome the RasGas differential of 3. This was a tall task but not beyond the Dukhan batsmen. The two teams are evenly balanced and beat the other one on their day. RasGas won the toss and made the local team take the field. The jittery RasGas batsmen failed to come to terms with the Dukhan bowling and gifted away their wickets to very poor shots. For once the Dukhan fielding did not wilt and took all the chances, except one which came their way. RasGas was down to 37 for 6 in the 7th over. The dropped catch could have put more pressure. However that was not to be. Finally it was wides which were their undoing – 11 in all, i.e. two overs gifted along with the runs. Amir Khan came on the scene, and blasted out the Dukhan bowlers for their poor bowling for 57, including 5 sixes. The bowling wilted further. RasGas were finally all out in 2 balls short of the allotted overs with 122 on the board. Rizwan, Cristin snd Hamid shared 6 wickets with Munaf Kasu cornering 3. It wasn’t a great score, not beyond the Dukhan Team’s reach, but to make it in 9.3 overs was a tall order. The Dukhan team had to go all out, and end up just with 81 in 11.5 overs. Only Rizwan made 36 with 4 sixes and Hamid 15. Desai took 4 wickets, Faheem 3 and Mohammed Saeed and Amir Khan 2 each. The twelve extras were certainly their undoing, possibly worth 20 runs at the least. They also let RasGas off the hook after having them in a stranglehold with their backs to the wall at 28 for 5 and then 37 for 6. Amir Khan was justly the man of the match, which took RasGas into the finals and on the following Saturday gave them their second Dukhan Championship Cup. They have been a bit lucky in both the games, but luck favours the brave. All credit where it is due.

All credit to the Dukhan Management for hosting such a wonderful tournament in the grassy pitches of Dukhan where the teams yearn to play and enjoy the outings. This year there were 20 teams, an increase of 4 from last year. This is likely to go up next year. It was an enjoyable tournament, with excellent arrangements in a sporting and festive atmosphere. The weather this year has been rather kind. It has been a long tournament. Might be longer next year. Maybe the knockout format might make it more interesting as you have to go for the kill each time. Time to unwind for everyone and especially the organizers. See you all next year, same time same place, same game.

And so, Goodbye from STUMP VISION.