BCC claimed their third cup of this season with victory over perennial runners-up Young Boys in the BCA Asghar Ali Knockout Cup. The only difference between this win and the previous two over their arch-rivals is that this game was close, exciting and, dare I say it, high class.

Not since the early nineties has so much talent been seen on one pitch in Bahrain, and how the appreciative crowd enjoyed the spectacle! This ding-dong encounter was efficiently officiated by umpires Gerry Rebert and Brian Levett. Even Mohammed Yaqoob's childish outburst at being given out couldn't mar the pleasant atmosphere of brilliant cricket being played in brilliant weather.

Early in the day it could all have been so different as Young Boys conjured up the spirit of déja vue by playing their own version of wham bam cricket which saw them score 80 runs in just 11 overs for the loss of Sajid and Zahid Majeed.

Instead of capitalising on this kick start there followed an epidemic of rash shots which saw three wickets fall in five overs for only 15 runs. The last of these was a horrible slash by Mohammed Yaqoob to the leg break of Ashraf Baig. Yaqoob has a good eye, but this is definitely not the way to play possibly the best leggie on the island. Shehzad Ahmed swallowed the routine snick and BCC's jubilation was unconfined.

Fortunately for Young Boys, the game itself, and the spectators who didn't want to see just another ambling victory by Bahrain's cricket supremos, the best passage of play was about to begin.

Together at the crease were Mohammed Nadeem, ostensibly a fast bowler, but with enough batting nouse to hold his own in a crisis, and Aamir Nazir, who had just returned to Bahrain after a couple of years.

For those of you with long memories, Aamir is the guy who, in 1994, took four wickets in four balls in the Gentlemen's League. He also earned a reputation as a dashing bat capable of winning matches single-handed. The intervening years have added to his waistline, but his cricket is still obviously alive and kicking.

The rescue of the innings took place against BCC's best spin attack, headed by left armer Nadeem Boota, Ashraf Baig and the off-spinner, Zaffer Zaheer. Patience was what was needed, and Aamir had it in buckets. It took him 19 balls to get off the mark. Really he was just getting his eye in; once established he picked off the bowling with ease.

Nadeem played with equal sense, getting well onto the front foot and stifling the spin, slogging the bad ball. These two added 82 before Aamir's patience ran out as he skied a ball for Zaheer to take a good boundary catch. With Qamar Saeed now as his partner, Nadeem opened up. It was, after all, the last seven overs, and the slog was on. How they slogged!

88 runs came in under six overs. Nadeem was run out but the onslaught continued giving the Young Boys a mighty 276 for eight.

At last BCC had a real total to chase. All season they have bulldozed oppositions into the dust and really not shown their full professional abilities. Now was their chance.

Needing seven an over to win BCC did just that. They scored seven an over with metronomic efficiency. Yes, they lost wickets, but only here and there. Shahzad went in the fourth over with 28 on the board. 70 runs later, his opening partner, Nadeem Shafi parted for 48.

All the time Mohammed Ashraf, the ebullient BCC skipper was delighting the crowd with his flashing bat. On 71 he departed, run out with the score on 173 for four, the run rate being, yes, you guessed it, seven an over.

Maybe Ashraf Baig and Nadeem Boota got bored with this seemingly mathematical progress in multiples of seven, or maybe the bowlers got tired, but suddenly the batsmen upped the rate.

Mohammed Nadeem was clearly exhausted after his batting efforts and BCC singled him out for punishment, claiming over 11 runs an over. Even the legendary Aamir held no ghosts for these two. At nearly nine an over Aamir conceded a half century in only six overs. He did get Baig, at last, LBW for 87. But the work had been done, the battle won and lost.

The 40 over part of the BCA season is now over, and we're back to the 25 over slogs. This might suit Young Boys when these two almost inevitably meet in the next final. Wait and see!

Score :	Young Boys 	276 for 8 wickets in 40 overs
	BCC		279 for 5 wickets in 37.1 overs

The MCC Ground has rarely seen such a run feast as was served up by the Plate finalists, Indian Club and Apsara Jewellers on the last Friday of January.

The Asghar Ali 40 over Plate Final mirrored the scoring in the big final just 50 yards away on the BCC Ground, and both teams can be proud of their respective performances.

One might be tempted to say that the bowling attacks were weak, but this certainly wasn't always the case for either team.

Yes, the fielding did leave rather a lot to be desired as many fielders seemed not to have washed the butter off their hands after breakfast. Indeed, players became used to the sound of the ball plopping onto the ground as it fell harmlessly from sore fingers.

In the fielders' defence, the outfields in Bahrain do not lend themselves to good catching as the footing, so vital when taking difficult chances, is slippery, even dangerous. Certainly the batsmen capitalise on any advantage, and that Friday provided plenty of opportunity.

Apsara opened with a sound century partnership from Manjit Singh and Ishtiaq Tramboo.

Manjit plays straight and hard at the ball pitched up and has a vicious cut shot to the short, wide delivery. He has been scoring runs all season, so it was no surprise to see him reach a well-earned half ton.

Ishtiaq went on to a breezy century in his own street-fighting style, relying on a good eye and plenty of loose deliveries. A rare failure by Sanjay Rathod was amply balanced by 27 from Punit Sagar as the total mounted to a mountainous 280.

In the semi-final, Apsara scored 275 against Awali and almost lost through complacency. The obvious lesson wasn't learned, however, and the Jewellers proceeded to squander their advantage with a profligate display of wasteful outcricket.

Bahrain cricketers know that if you don't get Ajay Kumar out early he will get a big score, and quickly. He hits the ball very hard, so chances are rarely easy, but he does offer them. Apsara didn't take him early and his ton was a foregone conclusion.

At the other end Nitin Menon concentrated on survival and reached a worthy 39 not out. Ajay's runs were scored so fast that the run rate problem was greatly reduced.

Not that the rest of the Indian Club sat back on Ajay's laurels. Dharmesh Kumar and Shailesh Kumar hammered away with purpose and Vijay Sailor chipped in with 22 rapid runs.

Though wickets fell, there was no need to panic as Dr Naseem Hussain and Nitin saw the team safely home with an amazing five overs to spare.

Apsara's best bowler was Faisal Maqbool, but even his wobbly medium pace couldn't unsettle the Indian Club batsmen once they were set.

Score :		Apsara Jewellers	280 for 7 wickets in 40 overs
		Indian Club		284 for 4 wickets in 34.4 overs

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