JEDDAH, 17 May — Three centuries — Rashid and Manjeet of SGB Baroom and Faisal Butt of Traco — were the highlight in the high-scoring thriller, which SGB Baroom won with 4 balls to spare in the 3rd week of the Al Rabie Pulz League sponsored by Al Rabie Foods and organized by JCL.
Elsewhere, a fine all round performance by Rashid Malik (79 not out and 3 for 36) enabled his team Zuhair Zahran to a 3-wicket win over Young Athlete who lost their third match in a row and Traco Green beat Toshiba by 7 wickets.
Traco had high hopes of scoring a fine win against SGB Baroom when their opener Faisal Butt showed his form when he scored a superb 153 runs to enable his team an imposing score of 307 for 5 but that was short-lived as SGB Baroom prolific scorers Rashid (105) and Manjeet (100) put in scintillating performances to enable their team reach the target of 309 for 5 wickets in 34.2 overs. Faisal was in fine fettle as he opened his first scoring shot with a huge six and then went on to hit 8 more along with 11 fours off 118 balls. His batting was brilliant and full of power and was given good support by Azeem who scored an impressive 70 runs with 7 fours and a six and Naeem who chipped in with an unbeaten 21 runs. Rashid took 2 for 66 as Traco ended at 307 for 5 in 35 overs.
In reply, SGB Baroom got off to a brisk start as Shoaib put on 64 for the 1st wicket with Rashid before being out for 35 runs. Rashid Butt and Manjeet then put on a thrilling partnership in search of a high scoring win for their team, both batted aggressively and with authority. Rashid scored 105 with 8 fours and Manjeet hit 5 fours and a six in his elegant knock. The most impressive part of their partnership of 159 runs for the 2nd wicket was their running between the wickets which kept the scoreboard ticking away. With their departure to the bowling off Azeem who finished with 2 for 55, it was left to Saeed who scored 35 runs and made sure SGB Baroom reach the target of 309 for 5 with 4 balls to go.
Traco Green scored an easy three wickets win over Toshiba who on batting first managed to score 246 for 6 wickets thanks to a superb unbeaten 101 runs by Mushtaq with 8 fours and a six. He batted with courage and single-handedly as others succumbed to some injudicious strokes. Toshiba lost 2 early wickets but Mushtaq in company of Abdulrahman who scored a patient 46 put on 98 runs for the 3rd wicket before the latter was dismissed. Mushtaq continued the good work although wickets fell at the other end to complete his maiden century of the league and remain unbeaten on 101. Shahzad bowled well to finish with 2 for 36 as Toshiba ended at 246 for 6. In reply,Traco Green lost 3 early wickets to be on the defensive at 58 for 3 but thereafter it was Tariq and Baber all the way. They steadied the ship initially and then launched their fusillade. Tariq batted patiently before opening up to hit 14 fours and a six in his unbeaten 100 whereas Baber who has been in fine knick remained unbeaten on 66 with 6 fours and a six. Their unfinished partnership of 189 runs for the 4th wicket enabled Traco Green to reach the target of 247 in 30.1 overs.
Rashid Malik’s fine all-round performance was the highlight of Zuhair Zahran’s 2nd win of the league against Young Athlete who managed to score 239 for 9 in 35 overs. Amer (28), Saleem (28), Amjad (42), Hussain (20), Mateen (33) made good starts but could not capitalize on it as they got out to reckless shots when well settled. The Athlete collapsed from 174 for 4 to 198 for 8 but Shaukat Malik used the long handle to good effect as he hit 42 runs 3 fours and a six to enable Young Athlete end at 239 for 7. In reply, Zuhair Zahran lost an early but thereafter Zafar (28), Haroon (33) and Parvez (38) put on good partnerships but lost their wicket when well settled. However, Rashid Malik stood firm at one end and continued his good form of the previous match and ensured his side remained on course for a win. He picked his runs in ones and twos with the occasional boundary (3 in all). Although Manzoor (3 for 34) bowled well to cause a middle-order collapse, Rashid remained unbeaten on 79 to ensure Zuhair Zahran romp home at 240 for 7with 3 overs to spare.
