UCC Tournament - Season2
by Muneer
United
Cricket Club season-2 trophy was a cricket tournament that was held in Muscat in 16th
November 2018. It was a Knockout series between UCC-1, UCC-2, Muscat Tuskers,
Team Royals, Silver Butterfly, Hunter XI, Arabian Kings and ASG. Each team played each other in Knock out
matches, with two teams progressing to the final. The tournament was played to
celebrate Oman’s 48th year of National Day. United Cricket Club
confirmed that the matches would be played as 8 overs per side as per
International fixtures. The fixtures and venue were announced in November 2018,
with all the matches played at the RAFO Ground in Muscat.
At the outset,
the tournament started with the Introduction speech by our UCC founder Mr.
Alywn by welcoming the team members to the UCC tournament season 2 along with
Mr. Rengarajan was giving the brief outline about the rules and regulation of
this tournament. 
UCC team
members appointed two umpires from the Oman cricket division and they were
welcomed by UCC captains Dr. Essa and Dr. Musu. The first match was between UCC2
and Hunters X1. The match started at 6:30 am in the RAFO ground. Hunters X1 won the toss and elected to bowl
first. In first innings UCC2 Scored a Decent total of 49 runs under 8 overs and
finally, Hunters X1 chased the target with in 4 overs and won the group stage
match and qualified to semi- finals.
The next group
match between UCC-1 and Arabian Kings started at 7:30 am, Arabian Kings won the
toss and elected to bowl first. Prajeesh and Rudra batted well and had a
partnership of 45 runs and that made a mammoth total of 71 runs in 8 overs. In second
innings, Arabian eleven started losing wickets and from UCC-1, Mirza and Shaji bowled
exceptionally well .Mirza taken 2 wickets and giving 2 runs in 2 overs. Shajinavas taken 2 wickets in 1 over. The match turned in Seventh overs where Arabian kings needed 26
runs in 12 balls. From Arabian kings, Edwin George finish it off in style by
hitting 17 runs in 7th over. This in result Arabian kings won by 6 wickets
and qualified for semifinal.
At 9am, we
started the third match between Silver butterfly and Team royals. Team royals
won the toss and elected to bowl first. Silver butterfly had a decent start in
first innings and batsmen gave a solid partnership by hitting humongous sixes
and boundaries. This is the first time in UCC history where a team can score
100 runs in 8 overs. Silver butterfly scored 102 runs in 8 overs with the loss
of 10 wickets. In second innings team royals started with a great partnership
between Shadaab and Nihal Ahmed. Nihal batted brilliantly and scored 30 runs in
24 balls with the strike rate of 125. Finally, silver butterfly team reached
semifinals by restricting team royals with great bowling and fielding effort
and won by 46 runs.
The final knock
out match between ASG and Muscat Tuskers. ASG won the toss and elected to bat
first. Shakir Dadarkar from ASG scored 35 runs in 15 balls with strike rate of
233.33, he hit 3 sixes and 3 boundaries and gave a solid start to ASG. Muscat
tuskers bowled well and they restricted ASG
by scoring huge target and they ended up in 72 runs by 8 overs with the
loss of 6 wickets. In second innings Banty from Muscat tuskers scored a Half
century with a strike rate of 266.66. He raises his bat to acknowledge the
applause. Followed up his batting heroics with an 8 wicket haul to dismantle
the ASG bowling line up and swat them away in what eventually turned out to be
a complete cricket contest. A mere consolation in this format of the game – and
folded shortly thereafter to rubber stamp in semifinal line- up – Muscat
Tuskers, HuntersXI, Silver butterfly and Arabian kings.
At 12:35, first
semi-final match between Muscat tuskers and Silver Butterfly. Sliver butterfly
won the toss and elected to bowl first. Sliver butterfly restricted their
batting line up and their bowlers were giving tough job to Muscat tusker’s
batsman. Muscat tuskers scored 54 runs in 8 overs. In second innings Silver
butterfly scored 58 runs in 4.1 overs with ease and reached finals. 
The next semi –
final match between Hunters XI and Arabian kings. Arabian Kings won the toss
and decided to bowl first. Mustaq from
Hunters scored a Half century by hitting monstrous sixes and fours. Hunters
scored 100 runs with the loss of 4 wickets in 8 overs. In second innings,
Arabian had a poor start with the bat. First time in the UCC tournament, Nimit
from hunters had a hat trick by picking 3 wickets at a time and he gave a very
tough fight to Arabian kings. Finally Hunter XI won the match and reached
finals.
The final of
the 2nd UCC tournament between Hunter XI and Silver Butterfly at
RAFO ground, Muscat. Silver butterfly
won the toss and elected to Bat first and they scored 82 runs in 8 overs and in
second innings Hunters XI scored 81 runs with 6 wickets in hand and lost by 2
runs. It was a nail – biting finish Silver butterly won the 2nd UCC
tournament by winning 1 runs against Hunter XI. Nimit won the Best bowler of
the tournament and Mustaq won the best batsmen and best player of the
tournament.
In presentation
ceremony, UCC founders welcomed chief guest from Vision insurance and he was
awarded a gift of honor from Mr. Renga, and Mr. Alwyn. Team founder Dr. Essa
gave vote of thanks to the people who came and supported the UCC tournament, in
particular he thanked Mr Ruban for his valuable contribution to the team and
helping the tournament. Dr Essa thanked Vimal, Muneer, Shajinavas , Suresh,
Kathir and other UCC members for making
this tournament a Grant successful one.
