By DR. SAYED ZIAUDDIN
JEDDAH: Abdullah of Al Kabbani took a Hatrick to win against FRC Planet Technology, KKR thrashed Stallions despite a 29 balls 63 by Aqeel, Karachi Warriors had the last laugh against Al Hamrani Fuchs defending 153, Zultec prevailed over IDB Group despite Mazhar and Abid heroics and Abudawood Trading defeated Timex Lothers on Ground # 9 in the WPCA Afternoon hostilities in Week 9 matches here in the WPCA Waziriyah Grounds.
Match # 30: Al Kabbani Cricket Group opted to bat first against FRC Planet Technology on Ground # 4 to pile up 149 for 5 in allotted 18 overs on a humid and hot Friday Afternoon here. Saeed Iqbal hit 55 in 34 balls with 8 hits to the fence as he stitched 55 in 39 balls for the 4th wkt with Abdullah Bhatti (16) after they reduced to 7 for 2 in the 2nd over with both the openers returning back without much stay at the wicket. Imran Qaiser came to the scene at # 7 to score unbeaten 34 in 16 balls with a six and 3 fours to get to some respectability as far the tally was concerned. Afzal of FRC Planet Technology claimed 2 scalps.
FRC Planet Technology yet to win a match out of the last 6 matches tried their best this time to break the jinx and their efforts brought them so close but very far from success. FRC Planet Technology requiring 10 runs in the last 6 balls could score 8 runs to lose by a solitary one run and with that hope of winning atleast a match in this tournament. But then coming so close may take them to the winning podium if they continued with such zeal in the next two remaining matches. Almost everyone from their ranks contributed but the luck eluded them. Anas stroked 26 in 23 balls with 3 fours as he added 54 in 42 balls for the first wkt with Rafeeq who made 33 in 27 balls with 2 sixes and fours. Suda made 23 in 9 balls while Jaffer scored 39 in 20 balls. Abdullah of Al Kabbani cricket Group grabbed 3 for 25 in his 4 overs along with the Hattrick in the first three balls of his 3rd over.
Match # 31: KKR opted to bat first after winning the toss against Stallions Air homes amassed 205 for 9 in allotted 18 overs on Ground # 7. Jaleel hit 48 in just 16 balls with a six and 7 fours as he added 61 in 23 balls for the 2nd wkt with one down Kabeer who made 44 in 22 balls with 2 sixes and 3 fours after they lost Safeer on the 3rd ball of the match for nought. Mushtaq scored 15. Nujoom then hammered 43 in 22 balls studded with 3 sixes and a four as he stitched 45 for the 4th wkt with Kabeer to get to 143 for 4 in the 13th over. Later there was a slight slump with 4 wkts in span of 17 runs to be reduced to 160 for 7. Roufal made 11. Jahanzeb with 3 for 24 was the pick of the bowlers while Hassan Ali, Basith and Suhair had 2 each.
Stallions Air homes in reply lost Abdulrehman (3) and Hassan Ali (12) early to be reduced to 27 for 2 considering the high chase as Jaleel sent both in his first over. Opener Shafeeq (20) then departed to make 53 for 3. Aqeel Malik then realized the gravity of the situation to take the control in his hands to smash 63 in 39 balls studded with a six and 8 fours as he added 91 in 50 balls for the 4th wkt with Jahanzeb who made 32 in 21 balls with 2 sixes and 2 boundaries as the recovery hope and with that nearing the target awakened but the asking rate was too steep and rising with every passing bowl and then asking required rate well above 20 was never going to be easy and eventually hope nullified with 2 consecutive wkts by Shabbir in his last over to drown Stallions to 148 for 5 at the end of 16th over. Now the equation looking beyond their reach was reading 58 runs in 12 balls. Sohail remained not out on 12 and Faiz 10 not out to get to 164 for 5 to lose by 41 runs. Shabbir was the bowler to watch with 3 for 32 and Jaleel 2 wkts.
Match # 32: Karachi Warriors against Al Hamrani Fuchs on ground # 8 piled up 153 for 8 in allotted 17 overs instead of usual 18 overs. After the early departure of the two prolific batters, Riyasat (7) and Adnan Sialkoti (20) to make Karachi Warriors 32 for 2 in the 3rd over was a shock. But then One down Imran Sarwar hit a six and 3 fours to compile 42 in 32 balls as he added 56 for the 3rd wkt with Waqar who made 23 in 16 balls with 2 fours and a six. Suleman remained not out on 15 and Kashif 11 to get to 153 for 8. Mukhtar with 3 for 26 and Noman 3 for 30 were the prominent wicket takers from Fuchs.
Al Hamrani Fuchs then started the chase confidently with both the openers in classical form added 85 in 57 balls for the first wkt in 9 overs with Ali Raza hitting 68 in 48 balls studded with 3 sixes and 5 fours while his illustrious partner Zeeshan made 26 in 23 balls with 3 fours. At this stage it was looking doomed for Karachi Warriors but then they did not lose hope and they came back into the game with some good catches as with the breakage of the opening partnership the wickets started tumbling every over and the momentum produced by the Fuchs openers just frittered away with a wicket in every over to be stranded at 130 for 6 in the stipulated 18 overs to lose by 23 runs. Skipper Shaoib claimed 3 for 16. Surprising was the way Fuchs middle order played as when the openers returned the score board was reading 93 for 2 in the 12th over requiring 60 runs in 6 overs with 8 wkts in hand. But then this is Cricket and anything is possible till the last ball of the day and Karachi Warriors with two past championship at their back did not lose hope and continued fight with every ball to grab the opportunity to triumph. Spectators had other opinion that The Game of Cricket won as both the teams played wonderful Cricket.
Match # 33: Zultec opting to bat first against IDB Group racked up big 209 for 7 in allotted 18 overs on Ground # 5. Umair Ali Khan hit 47 in 27 balls with 6 hits to the ropes as he added an impressive 96 in 50 balls for the opening stand with Abdullah Essa who made 46 in 26 balls with 7 fours for solid opening stand. Zultec then suffered a jolt in the form of tumbling of the wkts to reduce them to 104 for 4 from 96 for no loss. Zultec with a formidable batting line up came back as Javed Iqbal smashed unbeaten 56 in 29 balls with 6 fours to stitch first 52 in 27 balls for the 5th wkt with Khawar Sohail (13) and then 53 in 21 balls for the 7th wkt with Shahbaz Rasheed who made 30 in 12 balls with the help of 2 sixes and 3 fours. Abid grabbed 4 wkts for 42 and Attaurrehman 2.
IDB Group started shakily with early wkts of openers to be at 31 for 2 but then one down Mazhar smashed 80 studded with 4 sixes and 8 fours as he alone stitched 64 in 29 balls for the 3rd wkt with Abid (6). Nasir and Waqas Butt contributed 13 each to be stranded at 139 for 6 in the stipulated 18 overs to lose by big 70 runs. Umair Ali Khan exhibited a fine all-round performance scalped 3 for 22 in his 4 overs.
Match # 34: Timex Lothers with deduction of overs under their name due to late arrival slammed 190 for 6 in allotted 16 overs against Abudawood Trading. Waqas Ali stroked 35 in 25 balls with 6 fours as he stitched 71 in 36 balls for the first wkt with Ibrar ul Haq who made 25 in 14 balls with 2 sixes and a four. Abdulwahid then smashed a six and 7 fours to compile the top score of 47 in 25 balls whereas he added 48 for the 4th wkt with Khurram Aziz who made 28 in 11 balls. Iftikhar remained unbeaten on 21 and Khaled 13. Adnan Dani and Naeem scalped 2 pieces each.
Abudawood Trading in chase took 105 balls to get to the winning target of 192 for 5 to win by 5 wkts with 3 balls to spare. Amir Gujjar scored 42 in 26 balls with 6 fours and Usman Mano 31 in 16 balls with 2 sixes and 2 fours. Ibrar ul Haq scalped 2 wkts.
