ABU DHABI // Ahmed Raza, one of the seven UAE internationals in the star-studded United Bank Limited team, took five wickets to lead them to the final in a tournament sponsored by their company, the UBL Twenty20 trophy, for the first time in five years.
Raza took five for 16 from his four overs after Qazi Ayub, the captain, had struck a double blow (two for 17) early in the innings to script a 38-run victory over New Medical Centre at the Zayed Stadium last night.
UBL will now meet Yogi Group, who got the better of Tyger by 24 runs, in Friday's semi-final at the same venue.
NMC did well to restrict the strong UBL batting to 142 for nine, but the bankers came back strongly to bowl out the opposition for 104 in 19.1 overs, despite a fighting knock from Saqib Ali, the UAE international, who fell in the penultimate over for a top score of 53.
Saqib came in at the fall of the second wicket with the score on 30 and was eighth out when his side was well short of the target.
Amjad Ali top scored for UBL with 45 with contributions from Safdar Niyazi (26) and Shoaib Sarwar 30 not out from 18, hitting a couple of fours and a six.
