Shah makes his mark with impressive start

SHARJAH // Two-and-a-half months after conquering the Sri Lankan master-batsman Kumar Sangakkara, Zahid Shah now has his sights trained on more big scalps. The UAE's fastest bowler began his Ramadan Sharjah Twenty20 Rufi Cup campaign with three wickets and the man-of-the- match award for the ECB Blues on Wednesday night. The tournament has a generous sprinkling of star-names on show. On Tuesday evening Faisal Iqbal, the 21-cap Pakistan batsman, played for Rufi, a side who are rumoured to be flying in the Sri Lanka quick bowler Nuwan Zoysa for their next outing.

Hasan Raza and Taufeeq Umar, two more Pakistan Test players, are turning out for Eurocon for the second year running. That is just the sort of company in which Zahid thrives. Amid a run-glut of three centuries in four innings at the Asia Cup in Pakistan in June, Sangakkara was felled for a duck by the UAE's new-ball talisman, Zahid. The ECB Blues beat Pak Emirates by five runs in their opening match of the tournament.

Amjad Ali, the UAE wicket-keeper batsman, was in the runs, while Owais Hameed, the young spin-bowler, also took three wickets.Emirates Islamic Bank won their second match of the tournament as they downed Salala Malik Travel by nine wickets. Faizan Asif provided the fireworks for the victors, smashing an undefeated 79 as they chased down their target of 116 in just 11.2 overs. @Email:pradley@thenational.ae