BY: DR. SAYED ZIAUDDIN
JEDDAH: WPCA organized five different matches in the Afternoon Session as Hyderabad Sharks shocked Nesma Airlines, Abudawood Trading thrashed Tuskers, KKR defeated FRC Planet Technology, Fuchs Al Hamrani continued their winning streak and beat Stallions whereas Al Kabbani Cricket Group after chasing well just gave way to Karachi Warriors on ground # 9.
Match # 18: Karachi Warriors opting to use the track first on a very hot day with Wind blowing across against Al Kabbani Cricket Group to rack up 198 for 5 in allotted 18 overs on Ground # 9. Adnan Sialkoti blasted an unbeaten 100 in 56 balls with the help of 3 sixes and 11 fours, his first fifty came in 32 balls and his hundred in 55 balls, he added 104 runs in 50 balls for the opening stand with Imran who made 55 in 28 balls with 3 sixes and 6 fours. Mohammed Ishtiyaq claimed 3 for 40 while Irfan Ulfat had 2.
Al Kabbani Cricket Group in response batted very well to reach 184 for 6 in stipulated 18 overs just short of 14 runs at the end. Imran Qaiser batted handsomely for his 96 off 50 balls with 19 fours as his fifty came in 20 balls with 12 fours, he stitched 90 runs in 55 balls for the 2nd wkt with Atif Mahmood who made 33 in 21 balls with 4 fours. Nasir was run out for 22 and Anwar 15. Imran took 2 scalps.
Match # 19: Fuchs Al Hamrani deciding to bat first against Stallions on Ground # 5 plundered 172 for 3 in the allotted 18 overs. Zeeshan batted with grit and class for his unbeaten 84 off 47 balls studded with 10 fours and a six as he added 94 in 67 balls for the 2nd wkt with Irfan Anjum who made 23 in 29 balls and then 39 for the 3rd wkt with Nadeem who made 27 in 15 balls to get to huge 172.
Stallions Air homes in reply again tried to chase clinically but fell short by 6 runs to lose the match. It’s a piece of sheer hard luck as Faiz hit 41 in 32 balls with 6 hits to the ropes as he added 55 in 30 balls for the 2nd wkt with Hassan Ali who made 20. Jehanzeib then stroked 44 in 28 balls with 2 sixes and 2 fours but then a long partnership could not be built and the required run rate could not be matched. Stallions required 24 runs in the last 18 balls. 7 runs came in the 16th over requiring 17 in the last 12 balls. Then again 6 came in the 17th and then they were left with 11 in the last 6 balls which they could make 4 and lost by 6 runs at the end. Irfan Anjum claimed 3 for 30.
Match # 20: K K R chose to bat first against FRC Planet technology on Ground # 6 piled up 187 for 4. Shafeer retired out for 39 off 29 balls with 3 fours and a six first added 32 for the first wkt with Jaleel who scored 30 in 15 balls with 5 fours and a six and then 125 in 69 balls for the 2nd wkt with Yasar K. who top scored with 55 in 37 balls with 4 fours and a six. Shabeer remained unbeaten on 25 off 13 balls.
FRC Planet Technology in reply was bowled out for 152 to lose the match by 35 runs. Rafeeq hit 30 in 33 balls with 3 fours and a six, Jafer 25 in 15 balls with 2 sixes and 2 fours, Nidhin 20 and Abdullah 15. Saifuddin took 3 for 32 and Jaleel 2.
Match # 21: In the first Premier Prime Match on ground # 8 Tusker choosing to bat first against Abudawood was crushed for 88 as Usman bowled devastatingly for his 4 wkts for his 18 runs in his 3.2 overs and he was supported by Adalat who grabbed 3 for 23 and Faheem Afrad 2. Muhammed was the highest scorer for Tuskers with 22 with 3 fours and a six, Ramiz 14 and Zubair 12. Tuskers lost wkts in a heap right at the beginning of the innings with half the side back in the pavilion at 28 for 5 with the backbone already broken.
Abu Dawood Trading in chase achieved the winning target of 91 in just 45 balls with all wkts intact as Mohsin hammered unbeaten 53 in 22 balls with 3 sixes and 6 fours while Ali Nawaz was 32 not out off 16 balls with 7 fours.
Match # 22: Nesma Airlines deciding to bat first after winning the toss against Hyderabad Sharks had a very disastrous start with 3 wkts in the first over of the day with Asif claiming Rana Abrar on the first ball followed by Imran Yusuf and Ahmed Rizvi. Amjad Jutt then took over the scene with initial defence and then attacked to get to 64 off 39 balls while Saidul Islam made 15 to get 119. Asif bowled menacingly to claim 5 wkts for 39 while Umer supported him with 2.
Hyderabad Sharks chasing a relatively low target lost the first 3 wkts with just 6 runs on the Board. Sada Hussain then scored 30 in 15 balls with 5 fours while Mohammed Atif remained unbeaten on 41 off 35 balls to ensure that his team is over the line. Mohammed Usman made 15. Imran Yusuf grabbed 3 for 18.
