News from the United Arab Emirates

Sri Lanka's Hatton National Bank look set to take out the National Paints Gold Cup for Sharjah Ramadin Festival following a convincing march into the semi-finals of the 12 team 35-over floodlit competition.

Rebounding from a first-up loss to Emirates Airlines in the Group matches, H.N.B.has emerged as favourites to take out the event which also attracts teams from other United Arab Emirates centres such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as neighbouring Oman.

H.N.B's international trio, Kumara Dharmasena, Russell Arnold and Sanjeewa De Silva, have been the key contributors, with Arnold hitting 51 not out in H.N.B.'s eight wicket quarterfinal win over Expats.

Expats, after crumbling to 45-6, recovered to score 118-9 in their allotted 35 overs, with Zakir Hussain (50) receiving valuable assistance from the tail. Dharmasena, Arnold and De Silva each chipped in with two wickets. In reply, H.N.B. made 120-2 in just 34.4 overs.

At the time of writing, the semi-finals were about to be played with Emirates Airlines meeting Abu Dhabi's Union National Bank and Emirates Bank facing the rampaging H.N.B.

This column will bring you all of the details in next month's edition.