ALKHOBAR, 24 January 2003 — In the EPCA League sponsored by Al-Ghamdi Trading Establishment in the Premier Division match, Kanoo stunned Al-Ghamdi & beat them by 6 wickets. Ghamdi batted first and were all out in the 34th over for 165 runs. Tariq Tanveer and Riaz Sayeed both scored 29 runs each. Shahjahan contributed 23 runs and Rehan Ali scored breezy 24 which included two towering sixes. Naheed, Iqbal Bali and Waqas bowled well and took 3 wickets each.

Chasing an easy target Kanoo scored the required runs in 28th overs. Iqbal Bali this time showed his class with the bat and scored 66 runs studded with 7 hits to the fence and took his team to a great victory.

Abid also batted well and contributed valuable 32 runs. Ayub chipped in with 25 runs, Tariq was the best Ghamdi bowler claming 2 wickets.

In the 1st division, Nawab Cricket Club (NCC) beat Basim International by 5 wickets. Basim batted first and scored 231 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 40 overs. Adnan batted beautifully and scored 43 runs which included 5 boundaries and a mighty six. Haziq and Saif scored 39 runs each, Junaid scored unbeaten 32 runs and Ibrahim scored 25 runs. Faisal bowled well and took 2 wickets. NCC in reply reached the target in the 35th over, thanks to Abdul Wahid who scored a magnificent century which included 11 boundaries and one big six and took his team to a thumping victory. Ghalib also batted well and score 45 runs and Faisal scored very useful 40 runs.

In another match Natest beat Hydrabad Blues by 6 runs in a nail bitting finish in the last over. Natest scored 277 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. Kashif and Nasir Zain put on 166 runs valuable partnership for the 1st wicket. Kashif scored a fine century with the help of 10 boundaries and one beautiful six before he was bowled by Saad. Soon Nasir Zain departed after scoring very fine 72 runs. Mansoor scored quick 40 runs and Murtaza scored unbeaten 32 runs.

In reply Hydrabad Blues lost 5 wickets for 63 runs and it looked as if they would be all out before 100 runs. But Taj and Iqbal put on 91 run partnership for the 6th wicket and the match became very exciting. Taj batted superbly and was solid in his defense and played glorious strokes in every corner of the field and scored a wonderful 120 runs which included 8 super boundaries and a mighty six. Iqbal scored 27 runs and Qasim 22 runs. In the last over 15 runs were needed but Hydrabad Blues could only manage to get 9 runs. Mansoor and Waheed bowled well and took 3 wickets each.

In another match, young Pak School team shocked Khalifa Al-Ghosaibi and beat them by 11 runs . Pak School batted first and scored 206 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Kamran with 69 runs was the top scorer, Muazam scored 27 runs and Imran 23 runs. Mehdi, Hidayat and Ijaz bowled well and claimed 2 wickets each.

In reply, Khalifa Al-Ghosaibi were all out for 195 runs. Captain Amin and Hidayat scored half-century each. Akbar Hussain scored 30 runs. Talha, Mubashir and Mukeem bowled well and got 2 wickets each.

Samasco Youngsters beat DHL by 105 runs and scored 237 runs for 8 wickets. Ashfaq scored a fine half century, Karim 38 runs, Asgar 32 runs and Rasheed contributed 26 runs. George got 3 wickets for DHL. In reply, DHL were all out for 132 runs. Santosh was the top scorer with 28 runs. Jafar Faheem bowled very well and took 5 wickets for 25 runs and Rafeeq took 3 wickets for 36 runs and Ashfaq claimed 2 wickets.

Deccan Blues beat AGE Jr. by 3 wickets. AGE Jr. made 211 runs for 8 wickets. Ishaq batted very well and scored breezly 78 runs in just 38 balls which included 6 boudaries and 3 superb sixes.

Qayum also batted well and scored 49 runs and young Waqas Mehmood contributed 25 runs. In reply, Deccan Blues reached the target in the 31st over. Ishrat scored fine half century. Khurshid Kahn scored unbeaten 36 runs in just 27 balls and Umar scored fine 34 runs and took his team to victory. Rizwan got 3 wickets for 53 runs.

SWCC beat ADAPCO by 9 wickets. ADAPCO were all out for 92 runs. Prabhakar with 16 runs was the top scorer. Tariq Mehmood bowled well and got 4 wickets for 17 runs. SWCC reached the target in 12 overs. Zulfiqar scored unbeaten 58 runs and took his team to victory. (Syed Iqbal Talib)