ALKHOBAR, 19 April — Khalifa Al Gosaibi defeated Globe Marine by 48 runs in the final of the SVM 1st Division Knockout Tournament.
Batting first, Khalifa Al Gosaibi scored 278 for the loss of 8 wickets. Abbas scored a fine half century of 56 runs with the help of 7 boundaries and a glorious six before he was bowled by Mohsen Hashem. Mohsen then ripped through the middle-order batsmen and claimed another 3 wickets.
Eijaz also batted well and scored 43 valuable runs. Mehdi contributed useful 32 runs. Iqbal scored a breezy 27 runs and Amin chipped in with 24 runs. Irfan and Ansar also bowled well and took two wickets each. In reply, chasing 279 to win Globe Marine laid the solid foundation as Irfan and Abdul Wahid scored 106 runs in the first wicket partnership. Irfan got out after scoring 57 runs caught by Amin off the bowling of Eijaz and Abdul Wahid retired hurt after scoring 42 runs.
Fayyaz also batted well and scored useful 42 runs but after his departure wickets started falling at quick intervals. Only Amir 24 not out showed some resistance as four batsmen got out without even reaching double figures. Parwez bowled well and got 3 wickets for 31 runs and Eijaz and Shafiq took 2 wickets each and took their team to a grand victory.
In the Premier Division, Kanoo beat archrival Al Ghamdi by 46 runs. Batting first, Kanoo pile up 305 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Kanoo lost their star batsman Munawwar when the score was just 26 but Zulfiqar Goga and Iqbal Bali put on 105 runs for the 2nd wicket and laid the winning foundation.
Zulfiqar got out after scoring magnificent 84 runs in just 57 balls with the help of four towering sixes and seven superb boundaries. Goga was smartly caught by Sajjad off the bowling of Hassan. Qaisar then joined Iqbal Bali and both played glorious shots to all corners of the ground and took the score to 251 when Bali was trapped lbw off the bowling of Sajjad for 92 runs.
Soon Eijaz departed after scoring 19 runs which included 2 towering sixes but Qaisar played a gem of an innings and remained not out at 84 which included seven classical boundaries and three superb sixes.
Chasing a big score Al Ghamdi were all out for 259 runs. Khawar Shahzad once again played a magnificent knock of superb 96 runs. Eijaz bowled very well and took 4 wickets for 37 runs and the young fast bowler Naheed took 3 wickets for 48 runs.
In another match, New Age tamed Imran Tigers and beat them by 52 runs. Batting first, New Age put up a huge total of 354 runs for the loss of 7 wickets thanks to the young dynamic all-rounder Imran Farooqi who scored a magnificent century which included nine superb boundaries and three majestic sixes before getting run out.
Sikandar Farooqi and Rizwan laid the 114 runs solid foundation for the first wicket partnership. Sikandar was in tremendous form as he hit 74 runs in just 48 balls with the help of twelve beautiful boundaries and a mighty six. Abdul Waheed also scored a fine half century. Faraz contributed with 36 and Rizwan 28 runs. Athar bowled well and took two wickets.
In reply, Imran Tigers were all out for 302 runs, Waseem the young promising batsman scored beautiful 80 runs, Anwar Masood also batted very well and he scored 81 runs. Irfan Daar scored 46 runs, Nadeem 33 runs and Raza 27 runs. Dawood bowled very well and took 4 wickets for 42 runs and Farhan claimed 2 wickets.
In another match, SPG beat YATA by 8 wickets. YATA batted first and scored 247 runs before they were all out. Nadeem Nawas was top scorer with 66 runs and Shahzad scored a fine half century. For SPG Tariq, Junaid and Inam bowled well and took two wickets each.
In reply, SPG reached the target in 34th over for the loss of two wickets. Thanks to Talal Iqbal who scored a magnificent century 120 runs. Hamid Jameel scored 66 and Mahmood scored 57 runs and took SPG to a great victory.
