RIYADH, 14 November 2007 — The new cricket season for the year 2007-08 of Riyadh Cricket Association got off to a rollicking start at Sulay area grounds here.
The RCA is the organizer of the 20 overs tournament which is solely sponsored by Castrol Saudi Arabia.
In Division A, a brilliant century by Arshad Mahmood led PIA CC to a 6-wicket victory over Lahorey Khabey, who batted first and made a respectable total of 204 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Faheem Shah made a classy 67 runs with the help of 5 sixes and seven fours. M. Tareq (40 runs) and Kashif (36 runs) gave him good support. For PIA Moazzam (3 for 41) and Arshad (2 for 44) bowled well.
In reply, PIA CC reached the target in 18.3 overs, with Arshad scoring an unbeaten 104 runs including 5 sixes and 11 fours. Asif Zaki gave him good support by hitting 39 runs. Faheem Shah took 3 wickets for Lahorey Khabey.
At KFSH Ground-1, KFSH Blues defeated Super CC by seven wickets. Batting first, Super CC could make only 137 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. Only Zahid (37 runs) and Sajjad (33 not out) offered some resistance. For KFSH Sohail Bakshi (2 for 22) and Imran Kafaid (2 for 39) bowled well. KFSH attained the target in only 11.2 overs, Imran Kafaid (57 runs) and Sohail Bakshi (46 runs) played well.
Sialkot CC overcame Samba CC by a thin margin of one wicket. Samba took the first strike and made a competitive score of 177 runs. Mohd Tabraiz (50 runs) and Asif Khan (36 runs) were the main contributors. For Sialkot Imran and Afzal took two wickets each. Sialkot’s chase started disastrously as they lost two wickets cheaply, but Eijaz Raja (65 runs) and M.Afzal (59 runs) steadied the innings before Sialkot lost 5 more wickets in quick time. They reached the target in the last over, losing 9 wickets. For Samba Hasnain (3 wickets) and Manzoor (2 wickets) bowled well.
At RCA ground-5 ITSO A beat Friends CC by 69 runs. Batting first ITSO A compiled a good total of 226 runs. Major contributors with their bat were Eijaz Ahmed (55 runs), Adnan Shahzad (45 runs) Asif bazi (41 runs and Obaidullah (34 runs). For Friends Javed Munawar and Ali Shahid each took two wickets. Friends in their reply made 157 runs, Javed Munawar (31 runs), Taimur (31 runs) and Osman (39 runs) offered some resistance.
In Division B, Habeeb Khan of Deccan Blues scored a magnificent century to help his team beat Kashmir XI by 117 runs. The Blues took first strike and made a formidable total of 254 in their 20 overs. Habeeb struck 109 runs which contained 18 fours and 2 sixes. He got good support from M.Fayeq (43 runs) and Abdul Kareem (38 runs).
In reply Kashmir XI could muster only 137 runs, Mudasir scored 31 runs for Kashmir. In another match at RCA ground-1 Aces CC defeated national CC by 2 wickets. National CC made 173 runs. Abid Baig (37 runs) and Salman Khan (24 runs) were the main batsmen. For Aces Masood and Zubair each took 3 wickets. Aces reached the target by losing 8 wickets, Syed Zubair made fine 65 runs, while Shad Khan made 49 runs.
In the last match of the day ITSO B made light work of KFSH greens, winning by 61 runs. Batting first ITSO B compiled 235 runs. M.Saqib (73 runs), Iqlaq (55 runs) and Fareed Ahmed (40 runs) were the main contributors. For KFSH green Javed Bakshi took 2 wickets. KFSH could make only 183 runs. Habeeb Akbar waged a lone battle by scoring 65 runs.
