BY: DR. SAYED ZIAUDDIN
JEDDAH: In the Afternoon matches in Week 11 hostilities Tuskers defeated IDB Group by 7 wkts, Lothers successfully defended the target of 172 against Hyderabad Sharks as Hyderabad Sharks lost their first encounter here in this tournament, Kabbani surprised Stallions in a high-scoring match whereas FRC Planet Technology won their first match in the tournament against Karachi Warriors here in the WPCA Waziriyah Grounds.
Match # 41: Stallions Air Homes asked to bat first by Al Kabbani cricket Group racked up an impressive 198 for 6 in allotted 18 overs on ground # 9. Faiz hit 58 in 26 balls with 2 sixes and 7 fours as he added first 45 for the opening wkt with Shafeeq (19) and then 60 in 31 balls for the 2nd wkt with Abdulrehman who made 24 in 16 balls with 4 fours to get past the 100 mark in the 9th over. Jahanzeb then hit 39 in 21 balls with 3 huge sixes and a four to add 51 in just 21 balls for the 5th wkt with Hassan Ali who made 22 in 14 balls with 4 fours. Usama remained unbeaten on 19 to get 198 for 6. Abdullah Bhatti took 2 wkts.
Al Kabbani Cricket Group in chase reached the winning target of 199 for 5 in 106 balls to win by 5 wkts with 2 balls to remain. Abdullah Bhatti blasted match winning 98 in 40 balls studded with 6 sixes and 8 fours as his fifty came in 16 balls, while he added 56 in 27 balls for the 2nd wkt with Faisal Qayyum (38 in 21 balls with 6 fours) and then 58 for the 4th wkt with Mohammed Nasir (19 not out) to win the match and successfully chased the huge target. Abid Malik took 2 wkts.
Match # 42: Karachi Warriors decided to bat first on Ground # 7 against FRC Planet technology and was restricted to 129 for 7 in the allotted 18 overs with two of their prime batters missing from the squad due to late arrival. Kashif hit 33 in 23 balls with 2 fours and a six, Ali 34 in 25 balls with 3 boundaries and Karim 14 not out. Afzal, Nadeem and Faisal scalped 2 wkts each.
FRC Planet Technology chasing 131 to win achieved victory for the first time in the tournament to win their first match by 3 wkts in 105 balls. FRC Planet Technology took the pride in beating the Champion team of the last tournament here. FRC Planet Technology lost all previous matches but then they kept cool throughout the tournament and ultimately they won the match in the last phase of the tournament. Rafeeq hit the top score of 39 in 29 balls with 4 fours and a six as he stitched 62 in 40 balls for the 2nd wkt with Jamsher Kappan who made 31 in 32 balls with 4 fours after they lost Anas early on the 5th ball of the innings. Later nidin made 20 not out to win. Shoaib grabbed 3 for 33 and Imran Sarwar 3 for 21.
Match # 43: IDB Group won the toss to bat first against Tusker to manage 168 for 5 in the allotted 18 overs on Ground # 5. Mazhar smashed 52 with 2 sixes and 4 fours as he stitched 64 for the 3rd wkt with Waqas (13) to get some respectability after both the openers were back in the 4th over at 34 for 2. Yassir then hit an unbeaten 28 with 2 sixes and a four and Rameez 24 not out. Earlier Javed Iqbal stroked 21 with 4 hits to the fence.
Tuskers in chase reached the victory podium of 170 for 3 in 104 balls to win by 7 wkts with 4 balls to spare. M. Shibu smashed match winning unbeaten 52 in 35 deliveries with 2 sixes and 2 fours as he added 103 in 59 balls for the unbroken 4th wkt with Sharafuddin who remained unbeaten on a match-winning 50 off 30 balls with 2 sixes and 2 fours to triumph in style after they were reduced to 67 for 3 in the 8th over chasing 169 as Badushah scored 36 in 23 balls with 5 fours, Haroon 13 and Yashik 2.
Match # 44: Timex Lothers opting to use the track first against Hyderabad Sharks on Ground # 8 piled up 172 for 7 in allotted 18 overs. Ibrar ul Haq was the top scorer for Lothers as he hammered 71 in 34 balls with 6 sixes and 6 fours to add 65 in 41 balls for the opening stand with Waqas Ali who made 14 and then stitched 40 for the 2nd wkt with Abdulwaheed who made 17. Ahmed Shamsuddin contributed 20 and Khurram Azeez 22. Syed Arif Hashmy and Osman took 2 wkts each.
Hyderabad Sharks in reply was restricted to 129 for 9 in the allotted 18 overs to lose by 43 runs. Sada Hussain stroked 23 in 11 balls with 3 fours and a six added 31 runs for the 2nd wkt after they lost Mohammed Inlays (6) and Mohammed Shehzad (5) departed early. Atif Gill tried his best to repair the early damage by 35 in 24 balls to his name but then when he departed at 87 for 6 it seemed all over for the Champion team. Mohammed Usman then hit 19 and Arif Hashmy 10 not out. Subeer grabbed 3 for 14 while Iftikhar and Khaled had 2 scalps each.
In the Premier Prime, the Points Table looks quite evident with three top teams already qualified with Hyderabad Sharks, Abudawood Trading and Timex Lothers while the fourth place will be decided in the match between Zultec and Tuskers next week.
In the Afternoon Blue 5 teams Karachi Warriors, KKR, Al Hamrani Fuchs, Stallions and Al Kabbani Cricket Group are fighting vigorously to be among the top four to be part of the Playoffs in the Knock out stage scheduled to start from the first week of next month after two weeks of pool matches.
