AUS beats favorites, BITS Pilani, at intercollegiate cricket tournament

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) cricket team overpowered the BITS Pilani, Dubai cricket team by seven wickets in the final match of the Fourth AUS Intercollegiate Cricket tournament on April 18, 2012.

After defeating the Manipal University team in the semifinals, the BITS team was the anticipated winner. However, the AUS team, with its spectacular bowling skills, managed to score 155 runs in the allotted 20 overs. In the second inning, AUS openers, Abdul Basit and Rehan Ali, demoralized their opponents' bowling attack with several boundary shots.

After having lost to the BITS Pilani cricket team in the finals of this tournament in 2010, the AUS team evened the score with its victory.

Other participating universities included American University in Dubai (AUD); BITS Pilani, Dubai; Manipal University, Dubai; Ajman University of Science & Technology; University of Sharjah; Middlesex University; and Canadian University of Dubai.

Highlights of this knockout tournament included 163 runs scored by Shubhaneet Kohli of BITS Pilani against Manipal University; and a century by Abdul Basit and 98 runs by Shahzada Harris of AUS in the match against AUD.

Munketh Taha, Director of Student Development and Organizations, and Dr. Mohamed Helal, Sports Program Manager, distributed the awards.

"I am very proud of the AUS cricket team for the great achievements they bring to AUS and I am really interested in promoting cricket in UAE. Cricket tournaments should be conducted regularly in a large scale to give more opportunities to the budding cricketers in the university arena," said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Students Affairs.

The match was organized by the Student Athletics and Recreation Department of the Office of Student Affairs.