As predicted, the favourites to meet in the final of the BCA 40 over competition eased past game but tame opposition. Fittingly, these are the best and most consistent teams on the Island, and the final promises to be a close run affair. The match will be held on the Punjab ground in Riffa, using the Sri Lanka Club's coir mat. This, in itself might prove to be a deciding factor, with its wild and varied bounce. Both teams contain batsmen with more "eye" than technique, so fireworks must be expected.

Skipper in form BCC skipper, Mohammed Ashraf, scored his first ton of the season as his team chased down Bassali's reasonable total of 223-9 in 40 overs. The underdogs had Aamir Butt's 67 to thank for their total, which might have been higher but for a spate of run-outs, including that of Aamir, as the innings closed.

Once again the BCC keeper, Shehzad Ahmed, was prominent in the field, and with the bat. His expertise with the gloves accounted for six Bassali men, three caught, one stumped and the other two run out. Shehzad also continued his batting form of last week, supporting his skipper with a nifty 40.

On the bowling front, Zulfiqar Ali picked up the first three wickets, this his second three wicket haul in three weeks. With the spin strength of Ashraf Baig, Zaffer Zaher and Mohammed Nadeem, BCC still must be favourites to contain the Young Boys dangermen.

Not that the dangermen were much tested by Indian Club. Any total under 250 in 40 overs is going to be a doddle for the likes of Abdul Waheed, Qamar Saeed and Mohammed Yaqoob. That Indian Club were only able to post 156 all out in 37 overs was again due to the antics of the evergreen Younis Rasheed. Without having perceptibly changed his medium pace action for the past fifteen years, he finds himself the leading wicket taker in the BCA league to date. Another four batsmen fell to him on Friday. His return of 4 for 21 off 8 overs was remarkable against the team that has twice topped 300 this season. Young Boys needed only 22 overs and three wickets to gobble up the victory, with Abdul Waheed leading the way with 69 not out. Zahid Majeed gets himself a mention with his 43.

With this tournament not yet over, elsewhere the next BCA knockout has begun. In the first round United Bank added to Apsara Jewellers early season misery, trouncing them ny 48 runs. Solid, rather than spectacular batting by the bankers, gave them 211 all out. Top scorer was "extras", with 42. This should have been easy for the Jewellers, but they collapsed to 163 all out in the face of an amazing five wicket haul by M Rashid. Only four players reached double figures. Top scorer was, yes, you guessed it, "extras", with 36.

The only really exciting finish of the day came in the friendly between Awali and Cosmopolitans. With one wicket, one ball left and two required for victory, Awali's mercurial all rounder, Khalid "KK" Khalil, lifted the ball clear of the fielders, all in to save the single, to register the winning hit. Perfect timing, he had just come in two balls before!

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