Pakistan Test star Umar Akmal, a dashing wicketkeeper-batsman, shone in a different role in the ongoing 40th Bukhatir League in Sharjah the other day. Akmal stunned everyone as an off spinner, bagging four wickets to steer Grand Midwest to a four-wicket win over United Bank Limited (UBL) and clinched his team a place in the semi-final.
Akmal not only broke an 88-run partnership between Baber Hussain and Amjad Ali for the second wicket, but pushed UBL from a commanding 97 for two to 124 for six and return with figures of 4 for 35.
Speaking to a news agency, umpire Ifthikar Ali, who officiated the game, said: “Akmal bowled his off spin deliveries with excellent line and length to take those wickets.”
Mohammad Asif too bagged four wickets for 34 and with Akmal, they bowled out UBL for 172 in 44.5 overs. UAE all-rounder Ahmad Raza chipped in with 25 runs from 30 balls.
Chasing the moderate total, Grand Midwest lost quick wickets including that of Umar Akmal but his brother Kamran rose to the challenge and hit 37 off 69 deliveries with the help of two sixes. Fresh from his four-wicket spell, Asif hit an unbeaten 21 off 25 balls while Tariq Haroon cracked 41 from 33 balls with five sixes to guide their team past the target.
Another star performer of the league was UAE player and Danube’s Vikranth Shetty, whose century went in vain as Phoenix Medicine secured a close two-wicket victory.
