Javed spurs Fly Emirates to victory

Fly Emirates speaheaded by a match winning performance from skipper Amjad Javed defeated Phoenix Medicines by 41 runs in their first encounter in the Debonairs Pizza Floodlit Tournament conducted by the Dubai Cricket Council at the ICC Global Academy.

Opener Amjad batted with a lot of responsibility for Fly Emirates even as they lost two quick wickets for just 13 runs as Kamran and Aqib Malik picked up a wicket each.

To make matters worse for the airline staff, Khurram Khan was run-out in a mix-up. Amjad then found an able ally in Saby Fernandes and both played sensibly to steer them to 97 runs at which stage Saby was out after making 18 runs.

Nigel Fernandes then lent good support with a brisk knock of 31 while Amjad top scored with a 66 off 56 balls including eight fours and two sixes which saw Fly Emirates put up a challenging total of 164.

Phoenix medicines in reply also lost wickets regularly with Amjad Javed and Rehan Adil removing the openers.

Waseem 25, and Amjad Gujjar 14, arrested the slide momentarily but they fell to Yasin and Arshad Ali.

Imran Khan showed his all-round capabilities with a fine knock for 27 runs while young Aqib Malik contributed 19.

Brief scores:

Fly Emirates beat Phoenix Medicines by 41 runs: Fly Emirates 164 for 8 (Amjad Javed 66,Nigel Fernandes 31 not out, Asif Mumtaz 3-26, Imran Khan 2-20) Phoenix Medicines 123 for 9 (Waseem 25, Imran Khan 27, Arshad Ali 2-18, Yasin Sikander 2-20, Khurram Khan 2-27) Man of the Match: Amjad Javed of Fly Emirates. Umpires: Amjad Kayani and Razzaq Shah