Sharjah edge Abu Dhabi in thriller to reach ECB National Under 19 tournament final

Sharjah, in the field, narrowly beat Abu Dhabi to reach the final. Lee Hoagland / The National

Sharjah booked their place in the final of the inaugural Emirates Cricket Board National Under 19 tournament after clinching a thrilling one-wicket win over Abu Dhabi.

Sharjah recovered from 78 for seven to reach 183 for nine after bowling out Abu Dhabi for 182 on the second of the four-day competition at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council Nursery Oval 1 on Wednesday.

Brandon Martis stroked 54 and shared a valuable 62-run partnership with Mohammed Anwar for the eighth wicket, but it was the last pairing of Mukesh Mamtani (19) and Harikrishnan Valloli (nine) who took them over the line with 2.3 overs to spare. Valloli also took four for 26 from five overs after Abu Dhabi were sent into bat first. They were reeling at 36 for five and then 61 for six before an 80-run stand between Moiz Qazi (67) and Shah Faisal (21) took the score to 141.

In the Northern Emirates, Dubai bounced back to beat Ajman by 81 runs after posting 252 in 49 overs at the Ajman Oval.

Abu Dhabi meet Dubai on Thursday at the Fairground Oval in Dubai while Sharjah play bottom team Ajman at Al Dhaid in the final round of league matches.

The top two from league play will contest the final while the other two will meet in a play-off for third. Both games will take place on Friday at the ADCC Nursery Ovals.

Body: Scores: Sharjah, 183 for nine in 47.3 overs (Bandon Martis 54, Mohammed Anwar 28; Shah Faisal 3-55, Yodhin Punja 2-29, Naseer Khan 2-34), beat Abu Dhabi, 182 all out in 49.1 overs (Moiz Qazi 67, Naseer Khan 22, Shah Faisal 21; Harikrishnan Valloli 4-26, Atharva Kavi 3-34).

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