JEDDAH, 13 April 2004 — Saudia Milk, Sadafco, Kanoo, and UMA advanced in after outmaneuvering their rivals in the second week matches of Premier League, organized by Jeddah Cricket League (JCL) and played last Friday at JCL sports complex. The highlights of the matches are the centuries made by Amer Syed and Arif Mehmood for Saudia Milk and an all-round performance by Waseem of UMA.
At Saudia Milk grounds, the hosts Saudia Milk made a mammoth total of 316 for 5 in their allotted 35 overs against high spirited Contraco team while batting first. Saudia Milk’s openers Imran and Mustafa made 51 runs for the opening wicket partnership, Imran was unlucky to be run out while taking a cheeky single when he was on 13. Amer “the Hammer” as he known by, justified to his title hit fine century, he had a good partnership in Mustafa, who made a quick knock of 34 runs. Amer got a new partner in Arif Mehmood who joined him to bolster all out attack. Amer innings studded with three sixes and nine boundaries and his partner Arif smashed unbeaten 124 with the help of three sixes and ten boundaries helped his team to pile up a huge total. In reply, Contraco started disastrously by losing both the openers cheaply. Kaleem was bowled by Abdul Jabbar for 3 while Sheraz got out for 6 to Syed Amer. Rashid scored 40 quick runs hitting eight fours. Contraco made 185 for 8 in 35 overs. the Milkmen won the match by a huge margin of 131 runs. Abdul Jabbar and Khalid took 2 wickets each for 28 and 41 respectively.
At Zuhier Zahran grounds, the hosts Sadafco lost opener Ilyas Ali for just 9 runs when the total was 27 but one down batsman Pervez Khan did rescuer job scoring 41 runs and his partner Zahid Khan made valuable 88 runs partnership between them. Zahid made 38 runs. Captain Haroon came into bat made 24. Siraj Khan and Little Master Hussain made some 45 valuable runs for their team in the last five overs. Sadafco scored 225 for 9 in their allotted 35 overs. Shakeel took 3 for 38, Hussain took 2 for 28. Young Athletes started well and Nadeem and Saleem played some good strokes but he was unlucky to be out early on 5. Arif Rana lend some support by knocking of 72 needful runs. Kamran took Nadeem well caught by Haroon for 26 runs, Hussain made 32 runs while Jawed made 24 runs. Sadafco won the match by 12 runs.
At Kanoo grounds, SGB Baroom Green could not take the advantage of batting first and made only 194 all out in 32.1 overs. Their openers fell cheaply but Shafique made well deserved 55 runs while Usman also made 52 valuable runs. Noman chipped in with 26 runs to his credit. Zahid was pick of the bowlers taking 4 for 40. In reply, Kanoo achieved the winning target by losing 7 wickets in just 27.4 overs. Wasif 56 runs were the highlight of Kanoo’s win. Irfan 27 and Naim Amin 45 helped Kanoo achieved the target and completed with 195 for 7 wickets and won the match by 3 wickets. Hassan was pick of the bowlers and took 3 for 43, Shoib took 2 for 40 while Usman and Shahbaz took one each wicket.
UMA batting first scored imposing target of 279 to win at Mehmood Saeed grounds but IDB fell short of 78 runs and lost the match. Khalid Butt knocked 51 including seven fours and two sixes. But the wickets fallen from the other end, as the three batsmen failed with the bat behind him, only Shoukath 64 and Waseem who made 88 runs could manage to keep the IDB at bay. Khawar and Rashid took two wickets each for IDB.
IDB lost their opener Ramazan for a duck while Javed 20, Rashid Malik 38 could muster some runs but two quick wickets of IDB in the shape of the star batsman Khawar for just 17 runs and sheet anchor the wall of IDB Mohammad Arif for a duck made big upset. Abid 57 with his good striking rate and with the help of Attah gathered some good runs but this could not stay long as both became the victim of Waseem. IDB collapsed to a paltry 200 runs. UMA won with a huge margin of 78 runs. Waseem took 4 for 22, Zahid 2 for 46, Salman 2 for 18 runs respectively.
