Ajman T20 Cup 2022: Zawar Farid’s all-round brilliance takes Delhi Bulls to title

Opener Zawar Farid stood like a colossus to crack an unbeaten 72 to help Delhi Bulls emerge as the first champions of the Ajman T2o Cup at the Malek Stadium. Chasing Maratha Arabians’ 142 for 8, Zawar Farid scored over half his team’s total off 63 balls with seven boundaries and one six. He got timely support from Syed Haider, who hit 32 runs off 20 balls, and together they put on a crucial 65 runs for the fifth wicket. Farid also had sparkled with the ball taking three wickets to restrict Maratha Arabians – Brothers Gas’s total.

It was a dramatic finish to the tournament with Omer Farooq bowling the 19th over clean bowling Syed Haider with his third delivery and also had Delhi Bulls – Future Mattress skipper Umair Ali Khan with the next ball caught by Harry Bharwal at long on. Zawar Farid hit the hat-trick delivery from Farooq for a six to equal the score and then pick a single to win the game with one over to spare.

The drama of the final began with Delhi Bulls – Future Mattress winning the toss and electing to bowl.  Maratha Arabians – Brothers Gas opener and skipper Jiju Janardhanan, with a bag full of high scores in this tournament, walked in with their Under-19 player Hamdan Tahir.  Delhi Bulls – Future Mattress began their bowling attack with their Under-19 player and left-arm spinner Nilansh Keshwani. Hamdan Tahir scored the first boundary of the final off the fourth ball of the first over by hitting over mid-off.

Zahid Ali kept things tight with the ball 

Zahid Ali bowled a tight second over giving away just three runs. Skipper Umair Ali introduced himself for the third over and gave away only six runs. Then Zahid Ali struck with the second ball of the fourth over taking the prize wicket of Jiju Janardhanan caught at mid-on for 7. Usman Khan too fell to the second ball he faced, edging to wicketkeeper Abdul Shakoor for a duck.  When Umair Ali Khan had opener Hamdan Tahir miscue his shot to Syed Haider at point for 14,  Maratha Arabians – Brothers Gas were reeling at 22 for 3 in 4.3 overs.

Tanveer Junaid and Mohammad Afzal began the repair to the damage and took the score to 44 when left-arm spinner Sultan Ahmed had Junaid caught and bowled for 16. This brought in Shahnawaz Khan, and along with Afzal, kept the scoreboard moving.  With only five overs more to go, Maratha Arabians – Brother Gas were 79 for 4.  Zawar Farid who was re-introduced gave away only seven runs in the 16th over.

Shahnawaz Khan hit Umair Ali for a boundary and a six off the second and third deliveries of the 17th over but he fell to the last ball of that over getting caught by Zahid Ali at long-off for 33. His knock off 28 balls had one boundary and a six. Afzal too followed in the next over, bowled by Zawar Farid, for 35 made off 34 balls with three boundaries and one six.

Omer Farooq announced his intention hitting the first ball he faced for a six off Farid. In the next over Zeeshan Abid hit Zahid Ali’s first two deliveries for two consecutive boundaries and then hit a six off the fourth delivery. Omer Farooq too hit the last delivery for a six to take 23 runs off that over.

The last over was an eventful one with Zawar Farid having Zeehsan Abid caught by Nilansh Keshwani at deep point for 18 with the second delivery. Omer Farooq hit Zawar Farid for a boundary off the fourth ball but got bowled to him with the next delivery for 16. In the end Maratha Arabians posted 142 for 8 which was a fine recovery from 44 for 4 in 8.4 overs.

It was a shocking start for Delhi Bulls losing their opener Abdul Shakoor to the second ball off the first over caught behind by wicketkeeper Hamdan Tahir off Saqib Manshad for a duck. Shakoor was the hero of their semifinal match through a knock of 83. Adil Mirza joined opener Zawar Farid, who took three overs to get off the mark.  Omer Farooq, who was introduced for the fourth over had Adil Mirza caught at mid-on by Usman Khan for 11. Left-handed Mohammed Usman walked in with score reading 15 for 2 in 3.1 overs. He began by scoring a boundary off Omer Farooq flicking down the leg side.

Saqib Manshad bowled a brilliant fifth over giving away just one run. Mohammed Usman began to stroke fluently. Jiju Janardhanan who introduced himself for the seventh over gave away only four runs. Zawar Farid lifted Jiju in the eighth over mid-on for a boundary to take the score to 50. At the score on 54, Harry Bharwal struck by forcing Mohammad Usman on 15 to hit high and Saqib Manshad, running in from deep square leg, took the catch.

Zawar Farid led Delhi Bulls’ chase 

Mohammad Azha joined Zawar Farid with 88 runs needed off the last ten overs. Mohammad Azhar hit Harry Bharwal’s second ball of the 12th over for a might six but fell to the next ball leg before for 7. Syed Haider got off the mark with a boundary. Skipper Jiju Janardhanan who marshalled his bowling resources well introduced Omer Farooq for the 13th over. He gave away just six runs. Jiju introduced himself for the 14th over and gave away ten runs. With 51 runs needed off the last six overs, Zawar Farid kept the chase going and reached his half century in exactly 50 deliveries. Then Syed Haider began to unleash his big hits and speeded up the race to the target.
Brief scores:

Maratha Arabians – 142 for 8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Afzal 35, Shahnawaz Khan 33, Zahid Ali 2 for 33, Umair Ali Kahn 2 for 34, Zawar Farid 3 for 25)

Delhi Bulls –  143 for 6 in 19 overs (Zawar Farid 72n.o, Syed Haider 32, Harry Bharwal 2 for 25, Omer Farooq 3 for 29)

Man of the Final: Zawar Farid

Individual awards
Best Batter: Sagar Kalyan (Bangla Tigers – Karwan)
Best Bowler: Mohammad Azgar (Delhi Bulls – Future Mattress)
Most sixes: Mohammad Afzal  (Delhi Bulls  – Future Mattress)
Player of the Tournament: Jiju Janardhanan (Maratha Arabians – Brothers Gas)