JEDDAH, 26 December 2003 — The first week matches of the Kanoo Inter Division Cricket League for Western Province resulted in a major upset as Kanoo Finance defeated defending champions Kanoo Travel by 27 runs.
Kanoo Group defeated Kanoo Commercial by 14 runs. In the second week Kanoo Commercial beat Kanoo Travel by a narrow 9 runs.
First week Matches: Kanoo Finance upset Travel: Merchant (35) and Dastagir (20) put on 87 runs for the 1st wicket in 8 overs. Ashfaque (21 n.o.), Mubeen Quraishi (27 n.o.) and Nasir (17) enabled Finance reach 168 for 3 in 15 overs. Muhammad Ali Nayar picked up 2 for 28. Travel started well with Rashid (47) and Arif putting on 82 for the first wicket before both were dismissed at the same score.
Although Aslam rattled 4 sixes and 2 fours in his 43, Ehtesamullah picked up 2 for 20 to restrict Travel to 141 for 5 giving Finance a win by 27 runs.
Kanoo Group scrape past Commercial: Kanoo Group defeated Commercial by 14 runs. Ayub Karkal (39) and Younus (20) did most of the scoring as their team reached 107 all out with Ayaz Bijli and Shafi picking up 2 wickets each. Commercial were bundled out for a paltry 93 runs as Jerome took 4 for 21 and Dinesh Somani 3 for 25. Sharfuddin (15) and Shafi (14) aided the fight as Group won by 14 runs. Second week Matches: Kanoo Commercial beat Travel by 9 runs. Commercial scored 114 runs in 15 overs with Altaf Qadri (29) and Shafi (23) putting on 72 runs for the first wicket before the side collapsed to 114 for 7. Aslam picked up 2 wickets for 25 runs. Travel were bundled out for 105 runs as Ayaz, Irshad, Najad and Shafi picked a wicket each. Only Nayaz (22), Moidu and Arif with 14 runs managed resistance as Commercial romped home by 9 runs. Kanoo Group sink Finance: Kanoo Group scored 155 for 5 against a wayward Finance attack aided by poor fielding. Ayub (43) and Younus (42) batted aggressively to add 72 runs for the second wicket before both were dismissed by Ehteshamullah who took 2 for 28. Later Oliver with a quick unbeaten 30 and Dinesh (15) swelled the total to 155 for 5 in 15 overs. In reply, Finance were restricted to 116 for 5. Merchant (20), Ashfaque (22), Nasir (22) batted well but not enough to give a fight. Dinesh Somani took 3 for 28 and was supported by Yunus with 2 for 23 as Group won by 39 runs.
