ALKHOBAR, 26 April — In the semifinal of the Premier Division of SVM Knockout tournament Al Ghamdi beat archrivals Kanoo by 4 wickets and reserved their birth in the SVM Knockout final. Kanoo won the toss and elected to bat first. But it proved to be a wrong decision as they lost 3 quick wickets for just 16 runs.
At this crucial stage of the match, Qaisar joint Ayoob Khan and they put on 105 runs partnership for the 4th wicket. Ayoob lost his wicket in a very unfortunate manner getting run out, after scoring a fine half-century. After Ayoob’s departure wickets started falling at quick interval, only Nawaz 32 runs try to consolidated with Quaisar and put on 54 runs partnership for the 7th wicket before he was bowled by Khawar.
Khawar struck again and this time his victim was Quaisar who scored the magnificent century, which showed his class. He hit 7 beautiful boundaries and 3 mighty sixes and took his team’s score to a respectable position. Soon Kanoo were all out in the last over for 248 runs. Rehan, Khawar, Sajjad and Sadakat bowled well and got two wickets each.
In reply, Al Ghamdi lost their opener Tariq Tanweer for 19 runs, then Riaz Saeed was bowled by Nahid when he was looking well set. He scored breezy 24 runs. Shahjahan joined Iqbal Saeed both batted with discipline and laid the winning foundation for Al Ghamdi and put on 78 runs partner ship for the 3rd wicket.
Iqbal Saeed lost his wicket after scoring 59 valuable runs lbw by Iqbal Bali. Soon Al Ghamdi lost another two wickets, Shahjahan once again put another good partnership of 65 runs with Khawar for the 7th wicket. Khawar scored 34 runs before he was smartly caught by Nawas off the bowling of Naheed.
Shahjahan remained unbeaten on 75 which included 2 hits to the fence and one six over mid-wicket and took his team to final for the SVM Cup.
In another semifinal, Saudi Pan Gulf crushed AGE by 9 wickets. Batting first, AGE scored 249 runs. Imran Farooqui the young all-rounder scored beautiful 57 runs. Faraz also batted well and scored 48 runs, and Farhan chipped in with 34 runs.
In reply to the AGE moderate target, SPG reached in just 35 over. Talal and Mahmood opened the batting for SPG and put on 100 runs partnership for the 1st wicket. Mahmood departed after scoring 33 runs off the bowling of Farhan and Talal Iqbal was unfortunately retired hurt when he was batting on 75 which included 13 beautiful boundaries.
Thanks to Hamid Jameel who once again scored magnificent unbeaten century which was studded with 8 classic boundaries and one towering six and took his team to the final. Amjad also batted well and remain unbeaten on 26 runs.
