ABU DHABI // Shadab Akhtar starred with the bat and the ball to lead Abu Dhabi Indian School (ADIS) to a thumping 10-wicket win over the International School of Choueifat in the Abu Dhabi inter-schools cricket final at the Zayed Cricket Stadium yesterday.
He returned figures of three for seven from his five overs of off-spin bowling to help dismiss Choueifat for 88 and then hit a breezy 30 not out to knock off the winning runs in just 11.3 overs with fellow opener Pankaj Samant (47 not out).
It was ADIS' second win in three finals, having claimed the Under 16 title from Cambridge High School after going down to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Arab Pakistan School in the U14 final.
Asked to bat first, Choueifat lost opener Arsalan Shafiquie (7) to a run out after a terrible mix-up in the middle. That dismissal was then compounded by the loss of Dan D'Souza (6). The UAE U19 international and their captain was caught behind by Mazahir Hussain when he chased a delivery from medium pacer Suraj Ambre. He has been the mainstay, having guided his team almost single-handedly to the final.
Ambre returned for a second spell to take two wickets in successive deliveries to have Choueifat reeling at 69 for six.
Alan D'Souza hit a brisk 23 with four fours but none of the other batsmen were able to produce an inning of substance for Choueifat, who came into the final without dropping a game. "We were better prepared for this year's second staging of the inter-school tournament and today everything worked out perfectly well for us," said Denver Bopaiah, the ADIS captain.
ADIS also became the first winners of the open age category that was included after last year's championships for the U14 and U16.
"We had a good run up to the final and we couldn't finish it off," said Dan D'Souza, who won the best batsman award for his 194 runs in three innings. Omer Mohammed and Mohammed Shija, of Model School, won the awards for the Best All-rounder and Best Bowler.