JEDDAH, 18 January — Cricket League tournament sponsored by Kanoo Group, in the second division witnessed eight matches, in the seventh week. Nestle Milo out classed Salaheen. Saudi General Insurance (SGI) outclassed Talha Optics by 7 wickets. Tamer defeated AWH Rangers by 6 wickets. Otis was given a walkover by Zuhair Fayez and in a thrilling encounter Rabie Foods were eclipsed by Hempel Paints.
At the Nestle Milo ground, batting first Nestle Milo made 163 for 6 in 18 overs against Salaheen. Veteran Assim Shah and Imran both gave a very good all-round performance. Opening the innings Assim Shah scored 36 run at a brisk rate. Imran (44) and Rehmat (27 n.o.) built up the score. Abbas took 2 wickets for 23.
In reply, Salaheen were bundled out for 120 in the 15th over. It was Arif Senior (38) and Arif Junior (20) who put up some resistance, rest of the batsmen were shown marching orders. Assim Shah (2 for 16) and Imran (2 for 10) were responsible for the top-order batting collapse while Muhammad Shiraz with a devastating spell of 4 wickets for just 7 runs rapped up the tail. Nestle Milo thus recorded a 43 runs win.
At the Eskan 2 ground, SGI bowlers ran through Talha Optics batting line up to bowl them out for a paltry score of 120 in 16.1 overs in an eighteen over match. Seamer Rehmat 3 for 19 was responsible to send both the openers to the pavilion while Mujeeb got rid of the middle-order batsmen with magnificent figures of 4 wickets for 20 runs.
Afzal (25) and Zaker (24) provided some respectability to Talha Optics score. In reply, SGI openers Qamar Ijaz (36) and Tariq (45) gave a sound start to the innings.
Qamar has displayed very good skills this season; in the previous match against Saudi Majestique he scored a splendid century scoring 104 runs. Saudi General Insurance made 122 for 3 in 14.4 to register a thumping 7 wicket victory. Rayees had the consolation of taking 2 wickets for 20 runs.
At the Eskan 1 ground, Ahsan Rafay of Tamer displayed the touch of his spinning magical fingers to claim 4 wickets in 11 balls giving away 5 runs to humble AWH Rangers batting and bowl them out for 97. AWH Rangers won the toss and elected to bat and were soon in trouble having both their openers sent to Pavilion by Anees (2 for 19).
Batsman Iftekar was the only batsman to show a brave face by scoring 29 runs. For Tamer openers, Almas (29) and Siraj (45) made quick strides towards the win. Tamer made 103 for 4 in 14.4 overs to achieve a 6-wicket victory.
At the Hempel Paints ground, in a spine-tingling encounter host Hempel Paints overcame the challenge of Al Rabie Foods. Electing to bat after winning the toss Al Rabie Foods made 145 for 8 in the 18 allotted overs.
It was the fifth wicket pair of Mian (20) and Wasantha (37) that consolidated the innings. Hempel were guilty of conceding 38 extras. Jaleel 2 for 8, Zahir 2 for 16, Ihtesham 2 for 11 and Majeed Hasan 2 for 11 were the main wicket takers. In reply Hempel Paints were given a decent start by openers Munib Hasan (25) and Khusro (61).
In aggressive mood Khusro plundered 18 runs of Mian’s over. Hempel Paints batsmen kept the required run rate in sight with a seesaw tussle and Jaleel 21 used long handle in the final overs to see his team make 146 for the loss of 4 wickets with just one over left. Suranga took 2 wickets for 24. Thus a well earned 6 wickets triumph for Hempel Paints.
