JEDDAH: Ahmed Cricket Club (ACC) lifted the Al Harazi Div-II championship with a 38 runs victory over Deccan Knights in the final match, while Butt Sports Cricket Club beat National Commercial Bank (NCB) by 96 runs to finish third. The event was sponsored by Al Harazi Est. and organized by the Jeddah Cricket Association (JCA).
At the JCA ground No.2 ACC, sponsored by Ali Saeed Al Ghamdi General Contracting Est., won the toss and elected to bat. They made 210 for 5 in the allotted 20 overs. In form opening batsmen Syed Kaleem and Mazhar started well with Mazhar, who hit a quickfire 28 off 12 balls (4x4) & (1x6), in a punishing mood. He, however, fell to a moving delivery of medium pacer Ghouse. Kaleem built his innings by playing the balls on its merit and rotated the strike with incoming batsman Riaz to keep the score moving at a good clip. Kaleem made a well deserved 63 runs off 36 balls with the help of eight boundarieswhile Riaz remained unbeaten on 50. Aleem contributed 12 with Ghouse 2 for 39 and Jawad had 1 for 36 the pick for Deccan Knights.
Deccan Knights’ run machine Muhammad Umar Swadi was prised early in the chase with a daring move from ACC captain Zahid Khan who opened the attack with the experienced spinner Haroon Abdullah. Umar lived dangerously against Abdullah but perished in the next Akbar over for 5 runs. Inayath made 22 before Jawad 33 and Javed 41 brought some stability to the Deccan Knights batting. As wickets fell at regular interval the pressure mounted on the middle order batsmen to maintain the required run rate. A late flurry from Shahid 28 and Firdous 11 took Deccan Knights to 172 for 8 in 20 overs. Zahid Khan had 3 for 36, Hyder 2 for 20 while Haroon, Akbar and Jaleel had one wicket each for ACC.
At the JCA ground No.1 in the match for the third position, Butt Sports, batting first, scored 245 for 7 in 20 overs against NCB. Opener Tariq Butt made 4 but his partner Imran Butt scored 47. Contributions from Amjad Ali 65 (8x4) & (3x6), Imran Butt 34, Zahid 25, Amjad Siddiqui 22 and Junaid Butt 10 not out boosted the tally. Abid and Ayub took 2 wickets each for 57 and 47 respectively while Mehmood, Javed and Omer had one wicket each for NCB. In reply, NCB slumped to 159 for 8 in 20 overs. Abid 45, Omer 40, Muzammail 19 and Tabrez 19 stood out. Zahid 3 for 8, Abid 2 for 25 and Shoaib, Noman and Junaid one wicket each shone for Butt Sports.
JCA Patron Tariq Al Maeena, who was the chief guest at the prize distribution function, toured the JCA Asfan Cricket Complex - the largest cricket complex in Saudi Arabia. The four teams were introduced to the chief guest, who was perfectly attired in JCA cricketing gear.
Soon after the final, Tariq Al Maeena relived his glory days as a Jeddah cricketer at the wicket by playing some beautiful strokes while also bowling few deliveries prior to the prize distribution function, where he was joined by aponsors Al Harazi Est. owner Abdul Hadi Al Harazi, Mohammad Ashraf Gulam Chowdry general manager of Al Harazi Est, Waqas Khan, assistant sales manager Al Harazi Est., ACC team sponsor Ali Saeed Al Ghamdi and his cousin Yousuf Badawi, aeronautics engineer in Saudi Airlines, and JCA Chairman Faiz Al Abideen.
Faiz Al Abideen in his welcome address highlighted that JCA would provide a healthy cricketing atmosphere while also providing the best facilities for cricketers to play. He also said that the JCA was not only a grouping for cricket matches, but an organization that was keen to further the advancement of the players -- both spiritually and socially.
Tariq Al Maeena appreciated the efforts made by the JCA committee in a short period, while also endorsing the JCA chairman’s views that the scope of JCA of not only furthering the game but also the players was commendable. He lauded the efforts of JCA President Mohammad Iqbal and Vice President Aijaz Ahmed Khan in developing the game.
Winners ACC; Runners up Deccan Knights; third position Butt Sports.
Man of the match for the final: Syed Kaleem of ACC, Batsman with max. runs: Umar Swadi of Deccan Knights 846 runs, Batsmen with highest averages: Umar Swadi Deccan Knights 140.16, Zeeshan Butt and Imran Butt of Butt Sports 82.80 & 42.14 respectively, Best batting average: Umar Swadi of Deccan Knights 202 not out, Bowler with highest wickets: Junaid Butt of Butt Sports 20 for 125, Bowlers with best average: Junaid Butt of Butt Sports 20 for 140 avg.7.00 runs per over, Jameel Khan NCB 15 for 124 avg. 8.26 and Madhu of ALJ 17 for 159 avg.9.35, Best bowling performance in a match: Jameel Khan of NCB 6 for 32, Best all-rounder of the league: Umar Swadi 846 runs and 9 for 150, Best partnership: Umar Swadi and Inayathullah of Deccan Knights 265 runs first wicket against MMASCC, Best wicketkeeper: Amjad Siddiqui of Butt Sports 15 victims, Hat trick: Junaid Butt of Butt Sports 3 for 15 against NCB.
