Z Games Strikers triumph in thrilling final to claim 36th Sharjah Ramadan T20 League title
The tournament, which commenced on March 1st, saw 20 top teams from across the UAE battle it out in a total of 47 matches, culminating in an exhilarating final showdown.
After winning the toss, Z Games Strikers elected to field first, a decision that paid off as they managed to restrict GEMS Education CC to 169/8 in 20 overs. Leading the bowling attack, Zeeshan Naseer was the standout performer, taking 3 wickets for just 27 runs, maintaining an economy of 6.75 runs per over.
Despite the early setbacks, Rashid Habib (65) and Affaq Shahid (58) anchored the innings for GEMS, helping them post a competitive total.
Chasing 170 for victory, Z Games Strikers faced early trouble, losing two quick wickets in the powerplay. However, Raees Ahmad and captain Shahrukh Amin steadied the innings, ensuring their team remained in contention. The game remained evenly poised as Zeeshan Abid top-scored with 33 off 20 balls, while several other batsmen contributed valuable 20+ scores.
With 9 runs required in the final over, it was Nilansh Keswani who held his nerve to guide Z Games Strikers to a famous victory, sealing the title in a tense finish.
The all-round brilliance of Umair Ali proved crucial for Z Games Strikers, earning him the Player of the Final award. He contributed 27 runs off just 13 balls at a crucial stage and also picked up 2 wickets for 31 runs in his four overs.
The closing ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Khalaf Bukhatir, CEO, Sharjah Cricket, Nasir Akram, Member, Sharjah Cricket Council, Mazhar Khan, General Manager, Sharjah Cricket, and Tehseen Javed, Member, Sharjah Cricket.
The winners and standout performers were recognized with special awards:
• Winning Team (Z Games Strikers): Dhs10,000 cash prize
• Runners-Up (GEMS Education CC): Dhs5,000 cash prize
• Best Batter: Vaibhav Govekar (Colatta Warriors) – 297 runs in 5 innings at an average of 74.25
• Best Bowler: Nilansh Keswani (Z Games Strikers) – 12 wickets in 7 innings
• Player of the Tournament: Luqman Faisal (Seven Districts) – 326 runs in 5 innings at an average of 81.5 with a strike rate of 210
With this victory, Z Games Strikers have cemented their status as one of the elite teams in UAE's domestic cricket, showcasing their depth, resilience, and championship pedigree.
Brief Scores:
Z Games Strikers bt GEMS Education CC by 2 wickets.
GEMS Education CC 169/8 in 20 Overs (Rashid Habib 65, Affaq Shahid 58,Zeeshan Naseer 3 for 27, Umair Ali 2 for 31) Z Games Strikers 170/8 in 19.5 Overs (Zeeshan Abid 33, Umair Ali 27, Faraazuddin – 2 for 21, Ahmad Khalid 2 for 32)
Scorecard Link : https://cricheroes.in/tournament/1361087/36th-Sharjah-Ramadan-Cup-2025-(T20)
Live Match Link : https://www.youtube.com/live/JV2trJjaH7g?feature=shared
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
13 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Swinging through the sands of time: The untold story of UAE's ‘sand golf' era
There was a time, not so long ago, when a round of golf in the UAE had a lot to do with brushing sand, not grass, off your 'pimpled wonder'. A time when 'bunkers' stretched for miles and a good shot depended more on luck than actual skill. This wasn't just golf. It was SAND golf. And for a brief, sun-soaked chapter in UAE sporting history, it was legacy in the making. Before the immaculate greens of Emirates Golf Club or the YAS Links, before the PGA tours came calling and Tiger Woods tried his hand at desert domination, golf in the Emirates was a gritty and grainy game, although a masterclass in skilful chaos. Think carpeted tee boxes on sand, rolled oil-sand greens, sunburnt dunes, and fairways you'd sometimes need four-wheel drive to navigate. It was part sport, part desert expedition, but completely unforgettable even to this day. Perhaps nothing captured that spirit more than the legendary Sharjah-to-Dubai Golfathon of 1986. Ten teams. One desert. A single golf ball per team. And 30-odd miles of raw, rolling sand between tee and flag. Desert Dream Takes Flight The brainchild of Alan Forster, then captain of Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club, the idea took shape when he pitched a bold, slightly madcap proposal to the Dubai Country Club: a Golfathon across the desert, two cities and endless sand. Starting at Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club, originally part of Sharjah Wanderers Sports Club and founded in 1978, a troop of bold pioneers set off in the blistering 110°F afternoon heat, armed with clubs, hats and water coolers to reinforce the timeless truth that golf's spirit thrives beyond manicured greens. The rules were as simple as they come: team members play alternate shots, try to hit fewer strokes than your rivals, and make sure you don't lose your only ball in a herd of startled camels. By sunset, the leading team crossed the 18th green at the erstwhile Dubai Country Club with 174 strokes on the scoreboard and heaps of sand in their shoes. The Golfathon was mad, magnificent, and uniquely UAE. Braving the blistering heat, shifting dunes, and the raw desert, the team of Bill McBride, Phil Mulligan, Jeff Lampitt, and Ian McDonald stormed to victory, conquering the approximately 30-mile course in just 174 shots over 5 hours and 5 minutes of unforgettable determination and endurance. With grit and grace, the women's team completed the course in a noteworthy 332 strokes. From Sand to Skyline Fast-forward to today, and it's hard to imagine such chaos existed years before the Burj Khalifa was even thought of. The route from Sharjah to Dubai is now one of the busiest highways, lined with high-rises and shopping malls. The golf courses are lush, pristine, and GPS-enabled. Sand golf, like cassette tapes and Kodak film, has disappeared into the background. But here's a thought: Imagine vintage sand golf making a comeback! Not as a replacement for the modern game, of course, but as a celebration of it. A retro revival, just like vinyl records are enjoying in the music industry. Perhaps a weekend tournament on oil-sand greens, a nostalgic nod to the early pioneers of UAE golf who didn't need fairway sprinklers or clubhouse beverages to enjoy the game. After all, we're still a desert nation. Sand is in our soul and our shoes. If vinyl records can make a comeback, and black-and-white photography still has its magic, why not a return to sand golf? A Vintage Classic? Perhaps even a "Dubai Desert Classic: Vintage Edition," played on throwback courses with era-specific rules. Maybe even another Golfathon, though we might need to navigate a few more swirling roundabouts and toll gates rather than camels this time. There's something so pure, so rudimentary, about the old sand courses. No frills, just you, the desert, and the stubborn hope that your 7-iron doesn't bury itself three inches deep in powdery sand. Sure, we love our well-manicured greens now. But once in a while, wouldn't it be fun to play golf like it used to be in the old days, with sand under your ball, and nothing but hope and luck determining your success. Golf, after all, didn't begin as perfectly as you might think. And maybe, just maybe, we can pause to salute those imperfections that led to the modern, monumental game that is now played by over 60 million golf fanatics in more than 200 countries and around 40,000 golf courses worldwide!
Khaleej Times
15 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Seven-birdie surge powers Shankar and Shewakramani to BMW Open victory
The summer heat didn't stop the action at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club on July 13th, as the BMW Open Social returned in style, drawing a spirited field of golfers for a day of camaraderie and competition. With AGMC once again backing the event, the better ball stableford format brought out some brilliant team play under clear skies. Leading the charge were Adhip Shankar and Suresh Shewakramani, who turned in a phenomenal round to post 50 stableford points, powered by a sizzling string of seven net birdies and four net eagles. Their dominant display earned them top honours and set a high bar for the rest of the field. Standout performances weren't limited to the overall winners. Dae II Kim and Youngkoo Kang walked away with Best Front Nine after carding 25 points, while Bimal Jain and Jasim Malik closed strong to clinch Best Back Nine with 23 points. A regular fixture on the club's calendar, the BMW Open Social has become known for its blend of relaxed atmosphere and razor-sharp golf. The event also reflects the strong partnership between Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club and AGMC, delivering memorable experiences for players of all levels.
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Gulf Today
Hometown hero Kyle Larson looks to defend his Sonoma title
If you enjoy racing at NASCAR's snaking road courses, you have come to the right place over the past five races. For the third time in that quintet, drivers will mix in plenty of right-hand turns to go along with the usual left-handers when the Cup Series travels to its lone stop in California for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, the 110-lap race at Sonoma Raceway. Kyle Larson is surely thrilled to be back in the Golden State's wine country -- and not just because he hails from Elk Grove, just 90 minutes away from the 12-turn track. The race's defending winner beat Martin Truex Jr. and Chris Buescher over the final 51 caution-free laps a year ago. However, the 2021 Cup champ has not had much go his way since his history-making efforts in running at Indianapolis and Charlotte on the same Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. The hometown hero at the 1.99-mile track has run poorly since doing the "Double," wrecking in both the Indy 500 and Coke 600. In the seven races starting in Charlotte, his average finish is 17.6 with his best showing being fifth at Michigan. But the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports driver is safely in the playoffs, of course. His three wins tie him with Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell for the most, and he is a two-time winner in Napa Valley's vineyard region. Kyle Larson However, it was Shane van Gisbergen who sipped sweet success Sunday for the second time in the three Cup races held on the Chicago Street Course. In the first one there in 2023, the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing driver recorded career win No. 1. He was victorious in last year's Xfinity race but finished last in the Cup event following a crash. Last weekend, the New Zealander earned the pole in both races and scored two victories. He became the first driver to win from the pole on both Saturday and Sunday since Kyle Busch did it in 2016 at Indianapolis. "This joint, it changed my life," said SVG, whose three wins in 33 races make for a fine start in Cup racing and puts him with the most wins by any foreign- born driver. With Chicago's future in real question -- the three-race agreement is over -- SVG is one of many drivers who would relish a fourth in the Second City, though San Diego may be the next stop on the streets. In the playoff chase, SVG's win slots him fourth in the postseason lineup with seven races remaining, but with 12 winners locked into the playoffs, three of the final four positions have tightened up. The first winless driver, 13th-place Tyler Reddick, holds a vast 104-point lead over Alex Bowman in 14th. And while a victory might be expected of Reddick in his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, none of his eight wins have come at any of the next seven venues. Bowman leads Buescher by just four points, while Bubba Wallace, who finished 28th Sunday after being spun twice, holds the final playoff spot in 16th by only two points over Ryan Preece. It is then a 41-point drop-off to 18th-place AJ Allmendinger with 400 points. Larson (2024, 2021), Busch (2015, 2008) and lame duck Trackhouse driver Daniel Suarez (2022) will be the only active competitors in Sunday's field who have taken home Sonoma's checkered flag. Reuters
