Life as a fully-fledged club began in fine style for Dubai Wanderers CC on Friday as their first ever fixture ended in a 94-run victory.
Playing at the DP World Ground against AFF Tigers, Club Captain Dave Adams fielded a side with a nice blend of experience and youth as his side began preparations for its inaugural season in DSL9, starting in two weeks’ time.
The Wanderers were asked to bat first on a slow, low pitch and with the outfield showing signs of early morning dew, it was a 7am start to avoid the heat, openers Jack Luffman and Thomas Mariadason got the innings off to a solid start. A feature of the new partnership was the pair’s running between the wickets which was pivotal to an unbeaten stand of 66 in just eight overs before the pair retired. Chairman Luffman finished unbeaten on 34 from 28 and Mariadason 16 from 20.
The torment didn’t stop for the Tigers bowling attack however as 15 year old Ethan Dsouza showed his intent with 17 (15) including one massive maximum but it was club coach Clint Berkenshaw who stole the show with a swashbuckling 49 not out form just 19 balls including five huge sixes.
Skipper Adams showed some early season form with 32 form 18 and run a ball contributions from Eisa and wicket-keeper Ben Willgoss made sure Wanderers posted a massive 215-4 from their allotted 22 overs.
The Wanderers bowlers were in equally impressive form with openers Berkenshaw (1-25) and the ever reliable Nav Naidoo (1-10) striking early in the Tigers’ innings before a middle order fight back. However, under-15 player Zain Rana took his first ever senior wicket and bowled some tidy overs at the death while Salak Shah, with his mystery spin, and Mariadason also took a wicket each. Spinners Ash Connick and Eisa (2-13) bowled tidily and Dsouza rounded things of with three wickets in his two overs.
The young energy in the field also kept the Tigers batsmen honest and when the final week fell for 121 the Wanderers had completed an impressive first outing.
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