ALKHOBAR, 16 May 2003 — In the EPCA knockout tournament sponsored by Giant Stores Trading Company Ltd, Kanoo beat Saudi Pan-Gulf in the final by 34 runs. Kanoo won the toss and Iqbal Bali and Munawar took the score to 140 when Bali was caught behind off the bowling of Naveed Khan for 33 runs. Munawwar lost his wicket after scoring 84 runs, which included 7 hits to the fence. Abid Ghafoor (27 runs) and Ayub Khan (15 runs) were sent back to pavilion with the team in big trouble.
At this stage, Ejaz Saeed showed his class and delighted the large crowd with some majestic strokes. He scored 89 runs, which included six towering sixes, and took Kanoo to 293 runs at the end of their allotted 40 overs. Sikandar Farooqi and Naveed Khan got two wickets each.
Chasing a big total, SPG lost both their openers in the first 5 overs. Captain Sikandar and Hamid tried to rebuild the innings, but after scoring 15 runs Hamid was caught behind of the bowling of Naheed. Soon Sikandar followed him to the pavilion as he was smartly caught by Bali off the bowling of Eijaz Saeed and Zahid was run out.
SPG had lost their top five batsmen for 98 runs. Sadar Khan and Amjad Butt put on 95 runs, sharing a valuable partnership for the 6th wicket.
Sadar Khan lost his concentration after scoring 38 runs and was caught by Bali off the bowling of Munawwar and then Amjad Butt was out after scoring a fine half century.
Inam Khan, 27 runs, and Junaid, 28 runs, made a game bid but found the going tough against some fine bowling and excellent fielding. Bali struck twice and got both their wickets and SPG were all out for 259 runs. Brilliant Munawwar got 3 wickets for 53 runs and Iqbal Bali took two wickets for 30 runs.
