Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) held its prize distribution ceremony for the Challenge Cup Phase-1 on September 4, 2024. The event celebrated the conclusion of the quarter-finals and semi-finals, with eight teams from four divisions competing in the finals held on August 30, 2024, at the WPCA Eskan Complex.
Prize Distribution Ceremony:
The ceremony took place at Rosemond Hotel. WPCA representatives Sadiqul Islam and Sohail Shah welcomed chief guest Saad Al-Dajani, General Manager of SCPI. Other notable guests included Irshad Ahmed, owner of Zam Zam Restaurant; Abdul Mohsin Al-Shuraim, Head of Safety and Security at IsDB; Sahal Al-Marwai, Chairman of IsDB’s Staff Social Club; and Ramzan Mohammed Idress, Station Manager at Baladia Jeddah.
All guests pledged continued support for WPCA’s activities. They participated in awarding trophies, certificates, and service awards to winning and runner-up teams, umpires, and scorers.
The event was smoothly organized by Majid Siddiqui with Mirza Kashif Baig as stage manager. Support staff included Jaweed Ahmed, Rafiullah Mohammed, Faraz Kidwai, Zubair Sunasara, and Zafar Iqbal. Alam Khan managed video technology for the evening.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks, marking a memorable day for the WPCA and participants.
Match Highlights
Afternoon Premier:
Al-Saudi XI defeated Abu Dawood Trading by 6 wickets. Abu Dawood scored 109 runs in 18 overs. Key contributors were Arif Gill (27) and Aamir Waqas (30). Al-Saudi’s bowlers, Nadeem Sa’ad, Hyder Ali, and Junaid, took 2 wickets each. In reply, Al-Saudi comfortably chased the target, losing only 4 wickets. Omardeen scored 46 runs with 5 sixes and 3 fours, earning the man of the match award.
Afternoon Blue:
BBB won by 9 runs over Alhamrani Fuchs. Batting first, BBB posted 173 runs, led by Amer Wala (43), Shehzaman (41), and Azhar (40). Zaheer from Fuchs took 3 wickets for 22 runs. Alhamrani Fuchs managed 164 runs for 6 wickets. Adnan (64) and Bilawal (62) showed strong batting, but Suhail’s 4 for 31 sealed the win for BBB. Suhail was named man of the match.
Morning Blue:
OCSCL beat IsDB Blue by 35 runs. OCSCL scored 167 runs with key performances from Mohammad Ismail (27), Mohammad Shaukat (33), and Hidaitullah (40). IsDB Blue struggled except for Irfan Ayazuddin’s 72 runs. Mansoor of OCSCL took 5 wickets for 29 runs and earned the man of the match award.
Morning Prime:
Apex Freight triumphed over Black Hawks by 75 runs. Apex posted 212 runs, powered by Mohammed Sulaiman’s unbeaten 86. Black Hawks were bowled out for 133, with Shafaqat (45) and Arsalan (36) showing resistance. Abdul Rehman took 3 wickets for 10 runs for Apex. Mohammed Sulaiman was named man of the match.
Conclusion
The WPCA Challenge Cup Phase-1 showcased competitive spirit and strong sportsmanship. The tournament sets the stage for more exciting cricket action in the Western Province.
