Zayed Academy teach Young Talent a lesson

Figy slams unbeaten half-century to guide team to UAE National Academy League final

Zayed Cricket Academy sealed their berth in the final of the inaugural UAE National Academy League after a clinical demolition of Young Talent Cricket Academy.

They dismissed YTCA for 158 and knocked off the winning runs with nearly four overs to spare for the loss of two wickets at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council’s Nursery Oval-1.

Pavan Kumar set the runchase with a 30-ball 43 before his opening partner Jonathan Figy and Abhishek Prakash, the captain, completed the job with a 61-run stand for the third wicket without being separated.

Pavan hit seven fours and a six, and departed after dominating an opening stand of 63 in 53 balls. Figy played the anchor role. The left-handed UAE U19 international added 35 for the second wicket with Fazal Shahid (17) before taking his side home with a solid half century off 65 balls. Figy’s knock was highlighted by halfa-dozen fours and a six, while Prakash chipped in with 26 not out off 34 balls with three boundaries.

Earlier, Raees Ayan and Burhanullah Hussaini, the opening bowlers of the Zayed Academy, provided the early breaks to have the visitors in a bit of a spot at 14 for three in four overs.

Ali Mirza and Srinivas Sharma steadied the YTCA inning with a 67-run stand. Mirza was run out at 131 after sharing another 50-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Faraz.

Karthik Meiyappan and Hussaini then grabbed the remaining four wickets to leave Zayed Academy with a run chase of 5.3 per over, a target they kept under control after Pavan laid the platform with his breezy knock. Zayed Academy will meet G-Force, who got the better of GM Academy by six wickets, in the final.