BY: DR. SAYED ZIAUDDIN.
JEDDAH: WPCA managed and organized Seven matches in the Morning Session as usual with Sunbonn Sultan prevailing over Jeddah Falcons, AWCC dominated over Nadeem XI, Warraich Gujarat XI downed Cascade Group, Apex Freight went down to Al Saudi XI, Young Strikers had the last laugh against Black Hawks, AEC proved stronger than Markhour XI whereas in the last encounter BUPA CC defeated Transparent Mask. The Tournament, the last and 3rd of the Season has entered a very interesting stage as now the teams are pushing for wins to get qualified for the last four.
Match # 29: Jeddah Falcons asked to bat first against Sunbonn Sultans was restricted to 86 for 9 in allotted 18 overs on Ground # 7. Jeddah Falcons very new Club in WPCA are trying their best to impress but they are yet to get going as this time only three of the batters could touch the double digits (Qatadah Kazi, Hani Kazi and Azim Zaheer). With this performance, the Club management will have to revisit their strategy to overcome the opponents. Waqas claimed 3 for 18 as two scalps each to Roman and Abdullah.
Sunbonn Sultans very experienced now did not falter in achieving 87 for 2 in 45 balls to win by big 8 wkts with 63 balls remaining. Roman hit 4 sixes and 5 fours to compile the match winning 55 in 26 balls as he added 75 runs in 36 balls for the unbroken 3rd wkt with Waqas (5 not out) after they were reduced to 12 for 2. Azeem took 2 wkts.
Match # 30: Nadeem XI put into bat by the opponents could manage 147 for 8 in the allotted 18 overs on Ground # 9. Mohammed Urs made 30 in 22 balls with 2 fours and a six while Nabeel contributed 23 in 24 balls with 2 fours and Saddam Hussain 21 in 11 balls. Naveed grabbed 3 for 27 and Irfan 2.
AWCC in chase reached the victory target of 148 for 5 in 95 balls to win by 5 wkts with 13 balls to spare on Ground 9. Rizwan top scored with 46 off 29 balls with 8 fours as he added almost 99 runs in 61 balls for the first wkt with Qasim who stroked 36 in 34 balls with 4 fours. Kabir remained unbeaten on 30 off 19 deliveries with six and 3 fours. Nabeel scalped 2 wkts in his first over to reduce them to 105 for 3 from 99 for no loss.
Match # 31: Warraich Gujarat XI opted to bat first against Cascade Group on Ground # 8 piled up 187 for 4 in the allotted 18 overs. Rashid batted well for his 86 in 42 balls studded with 3 sixes and 10 fours as he added scintillating 137 in 71 balls for the opening stand with Nasir Ali who made 41 in 36 balls with 4 hits to the fence. Moazzam scored 21 in 15 balls and Mahboob Hasan 10. Jaffar took 2 scalps.
Cascade Group in response was stranded at 151 for 9 to lose the encounter by 36 runs. Yaqub hit 38 in 28 balls with 6 fours as he first added 31 with Irfan (11) and then 42 with Adil Deshmukh who contributed 36 in 22 balls with 6 hits to the ropes. Osama Amjed was run out for 27 off 15 with 2 sixes and a four. Mahboob Hasan grabbed 3 for 16 and Faheem 2.
Match # 32: Apex Freight deciding to use the track first managed 161 for 9 in allotted 18 overs against Al Saudi XI on Ground # 2. Mohammed Suleman was the highest scorer with 41 in 28 balls with 6 hits to the ropes, Qaiser 27 in 25 balls with 3 fours, Mohammed Salman 22 in 10 balls with 4 fours and Ahmed Mugheri 25 in 16 balls with 2 fours and a six. Kashif Shafeeq scalped 3 for 25 and Ghulam 2.
Al Saudi XI in chasing reached the winning target of 162 for 3 in 84 balls to win comfortably by 7 wkts with 24 balls to remain. Omardin batted magnificently well for his match-winning innings of 79 in 40 balls studded with 3 sixes and 11 boundaries as he stitched together 119 runs for the 2nd wkt with Nadeem Saad who made 25 in 25 balls after they lost Kashif shafeeq on the first ball of the innings. Nazeer Farooqui remained unbeaten on 14.
Match # 33: Young Strikers opting to bat first against Black Hawks could rack up 160 for 2 in allotted 18 overs on Ground # 4. Tariq Siddiqui hit 38 in 29 balls with 3 fours as he stitched 77 in 53 balls for the first wkt with Zuber Nazeer who made 34 in 29 balls. M.Afzaal remained unbeaten on 35 off 27 balls and Shahid Latif compiled an unbeaten 39 in 23 balls with 3 fours and a six and the two added 73 runs in 45 balls for the unbroken 3rd wkt. Sheryar had 2 wkts.
Black Hawks in response were stranded at 126 for 9 to lose by 34 runs. Arsalan scored 32 in 18 balls with 2 sixes and 2 fours, Hamid 15 and Rehan 16. Two wkts ago was taken by Abdi, Sibtain Ali, Gulam Murtuza and Nadeem.
Match # 34: AEC batted first after losing the toss to get to 177 for 5 in the allotted 18 overs against Markhour XI on Ground # 6. Babar Ali hammered 76 in 46 balls with 4 sixes and 6 fours as he stitched 95 in 47 balls for the 3rd wkt with Tariq Chandio who made 38 in 22 balls after they were 31 for 2. Yasir made 15 and Imtiyaz Shaikh 14. Shamas scalped 2 wkts.
Markhour XI in reply was stranded at 158 for 7 in stipulated 18 overs to lose by 19 runs. Shafaqat coming one down hammered 62 in 43 balls with 2 sixes and 3 fours as he stitched 52 in 34 balls for the 2nd wkt with Farhan who made 54 in 27 balls with 2 sixes and 7 fours. Earlier for the opening stand, Farhan had added 41 with Waseem (18). Yaser scalped 3 for 24 and Sajad 2.
Match # 35: Bupa CC choosing to bat first against Transparent Mask amassed 202 for 6 in the allotted 18 overs on Ground # 5. Qasim who blasted 87 in 41 balls studded with 4 huge sixes and 11 boundaries first stitched 63 in 29 balls for the opening stand with Attaurrehman who made 32 in 15 balls and then 94 in 51 balls for the 2nd wkt with Waseem Mehar who hammered 53 in 36 balls with 5 fours and a six. Altaf Hussain took 3 for 37 and Shahrukh 2.
Transparent Mask responded with 175 for 4 in stipulated 18 overs to lose by 27 runs. By any yardstick it was an impressive chase but then they could not keep the required run rate to get stranded at 175, falling short by 27 runs at the end. Mohammed Ali Hanif top scored with 69 in 40 balls with 2 sixes and 7 fours as he first added 122 in 72 balls for the first wkt with Gulam Ghouse who made 47 in 33 balls with 8 hits to the ropes. Sufiyan and Mohammed Saeed contributed 15 each.
