ALKHOBAR, 5 April — In the inter-city match between Eastern Province Cricket Association (EPCA) Selected XI and Jeddah Cricket League (JCL) Selected XI played here last Friday in a festive environment, the star-studded EPCA beat JCL by 5 wickets.
EPCA, after winning the toss, offered the visitors to bat first.
Amir and Irfan opened the batting for JCL they piled up 72 runs for the first wicket in just 7 overs. But their partnership was broken when Amir got lbw off the bowling of Sajjad. Soon Irfan departed to pavilion bowled by Munawwar around his legs for 30 runs which included 4 hits to the fence. At this crucial stage of the match Kashif 86 and 44 from skipper Anis Malik held together JCL’s fragile batting and put on 95 runs partnership for the 3rd wicket and took the score to 179 at the end of 25th over when Anis missed a flighted ball and was bowled by Iqbal Bali for 44 runs which included 5 boundaries.
After the departure of Anis, Iqbal Bali ripped through JCL middle-order batting line as he struck twice and this time his victims were Arif and Babar both smartly caught by Majaz. Munawwar took a brilliant catch on his own bowling to get rid of Azim and the visitors slipped from 179 for 3 to 207 for 7.
Kashif was the lone fighter, once again he tried to consolidate JCL innings with the help of Iftikhar and put on 39 runs valuable partnership for the 8th wicket before he was brilliantly caught at the long on boundary by Talal off the bowling of Eijaz for 86 runs in which he hit 8 beautiful boundaries. Iftikhar remained unbeaten on 20 and JCL managed to score 274 runs in their allotted 40 overs but in the process they lost 8 wickets.
Chasing 275 for victory, EPCA star openers Talal Iqbal and Munawwar put on 131 runs partnership for the first wicket and laid the winning foundation. Munawwar was given out lbw off the bowling of Iftikhar when he missed a ball out side the leg stump. He scored 67 runs which was studded with 8 classical boundaries. Soon Amjad, Bali and Khawar lost their wickets on all controversial decisions.
However, brilliant Talal played gem of an innings scored a majestic unbeaten century which included 9 magnificent boundaries and a towering six and took his team to a great victory. He was very well supported by Sadar Khan who scored 21 runs. For JCL, Faisal took 3 wickets for 52 runs and Iftikhar got 2 wickets for 58 runs.
In another inter-city match, EPCA beat Madinah Cricket Association (MCA) by 30 runs. EPCA batted first and scored 278 runs for 9 wickets. Sadaqat batted well and scored fine 80 runs with the help of 9 superb boundaries and a mighty six. Hamid Jamil also batted well and scored a fine half century of 56 runs with 5 boundaries. Javed took 3 wickets and Shakil got 2 wickets.
In reply, MCA were all out for 248 runs in the 38th over. Ramzan batted well and scored 73 runs which included 6 hits to the fence and Shakil scored a fine half century. Saad 39 runs and Aijaz 26 runs were other main scorers. For EPCA Rizwan and Waseem bowled well and took 2 wickets each.
JCL President XI beat EPCA President XI; EPCA President XI beat MCA President XI
Visitors JCL President XI defeated the hosts EPCA President XI by 42 runs in the inter-city inaugural match played here recently.
In another match of the same event, the EPCA XI beat MCA President XI by 7 wickets.
Batting first, JCL President XI scored 292 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted 40 overs. Kashif scored useful 80 runs. Arif 46 runs, Manjit 30, Hussain 24 and Amir 22 runs were the other main scorer. Nadeem bowled well and took 3 wickets for 52 runs and Rizwan took 2 wickets 61 runs.
Chasing 292 EPCA suffered an early blow when their opener Goga got out for a duck. Then Rizwan joined Munawwar and they took the score to 81 when Rizwan lost his wicket off the bowling of Malik. Wasim came in and with Munawwar consolidate the innings and put on 84 runs partnership for the 3rd wicket before getting run out after scoring 46 runs. Soon Munawar departed another run out after scoring 76 runs.
After the departure of Munawwar, Faisal and Irfan ripped through the middle order. Reeling under pressure only captain Riaz showed little resistance but he also lost his wicket after scoring 30 runs and Nadeem contributed 21 runs. Thus EPCA President XI got out for 250 runs. Faisal took 4 wickets for 52 runs and Hussain claimed 3 wickets for 58 runs.
In another match, EPCA President XI crushed Madinah Cricket Association (MCA) by 7 wickets. MCA batted first and scored 289 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Shakil batted well and scored 66 runs with the help of 5 boundaries and two mighty sixes.
Salahuddin contributed 44 runs, Eijaz 37, Ramzan 41 and Javed and Saad scored 24 runs each. Raza Abbas bowled well and took 3 wickets for 46 runs and Mazhar got 2 wickets for 58 runs.
In reply, EPCA lost two quick wickets and were under pressure at this crucial point Iqbal Bali the brilliant all-rounder joined captain Hamid Jamil and both batted sensibly and put on 82 runs partnership for the 3rd wicket when Hamid Jamil went for a big hit and was caught at the boundary off the bowling of Shakeel. Hamid scored 59 runs which included 4 boundaries and two mighty six.
Raza joined Iqbal Bali and showed some classic batting display and delighted the crowd with their brilliant batting and superb running between the wicket. They put on 171 runs unbroken partnership for the 4th wicket and took EPCA to a thumping victory.
Iqbal Bali was in tremendous form he scored magnificent unbeaten century 120 runs in just 83 balls which was included with 14 superb boundaries. Raza Abbas also scored unbeaten half century and saw EPCA winning the match in 38th over.
