JEDDAH, 27 June 2003 — Jeddah Cricket League President XI and Executive Committee XI triumphed against Eastern Province Cricket Association (EPCA) President XI and Executive Committee XI respectively. While the President XI thrashed their counterpart by 6 wickets, JCL ExCom XI defeated their EPCA counterpart by 5 wickets.
EPCA President XI openers Abdul Waheed (47) and Mohammad Waseem (53) began at a steady pace placing the ball in gaps and picking up the occasional boundary. In 10 overs they scored 70 for no loss. Both batted elegantly and looked confident for a big score.
They started accelerating as the next 3 overs saw a flurry of runs particularly by Wasim who hit 2 fours and a six in one over. But in that excitement both fell in quick succession, Waheed was out at 105 caught off Kashif for a superb 47 (4 fours) and Waseem departed at 114 caught off Mujahid for a well-made 53 with 5 fours and a six. Rizwan (25), Abid Ghafoor (36) and skipper Munawar (40—4 fours 1 six) batted sensibly to ensure that their team posted a respectable tally, which they succeeded as they took the score to 226 for 4 till the arrival of Ghufran and Khawar.
In a matter of six overs Ghufran turned the tables with his fast off-spin to rock the lower order taking 4 for 12 runs, while Khawar supported him taking 2 for 25. Earlier. Wajahat had taken 2 for 43. EPCA collapsed from 226 for 4 to 260 all out on the penultimate ball of their innings.
In reply, JCL lost an early wicket but Khawar went for the bowling and along with Zulfiqar put on 40 runs for the 2nd wicket before the latter was out. Khawar was in ferocious mood as he hit 7 fours and a six before his over-adventurism cost him his wicket for a well-made 49 with JCL at 79 for 3. Mujahid entered the scene and along with support from skipper Wajahat (33) and Humayun (35 n.o.) put on a match winning partnership of 81 and 101 runs for the 4th and unfinished 5th wicket. Mujahid batted beautifully and his drives and pulls were a treat to watch. In all, Mujahid hit 13 well-timed fours and raced to a superb century of 78 balls, to remain unbeaten with 102 runs. JCL won comfortably by 5 wickets with 6 overs to spare.
Meanwhile at the other ground EPCA President XI openers — Sajjad Nawaz (45) and Sikandar Farooqui (73) — started on an aggressive note as they put on 117 runs for the first wicket in only 13 overs. Farooqui was very severe as he hit 8 fours and a six in his belligerent innings of 73 runs while Sajjad, not far behind, hit 7 fours in his 45. Thereafter wickets fell at regular intervals as JCL President Shahid Amin took 2 for 28. EPCA scored 183 for 6 in 20 overs.
In reply, JCL lost opener Naeemullah cheaply but thereafter it was Hamid Rona all the way as he raced to his half-century with some solid batting. In all, he hit 7 fours in his 62 runs. He was given good support by Ajax Khan (30—4 fours), who showed the batting talent of his young days to all who had flocked to see the match, the two put on 97 runs for the 2nd wicket. With the departure of Hamid and Aijaz, it was the turn of Nadeem Nadwi, who hit a quickfire unbeaten 49 and reminded all why he was feared by opponents in his youth. He took a few overs to settle before launching his fusillade hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes to finish of the innings at 185 for 5 in 17.4 overs to give JCL ExCom a win by 5 wickets.
