JEDDAH, 24 May — In the third week matches of Jeddah Cricket League Friday League sponsored by Fuchs Petroleum, Afkar Promo 7 had a comfortable victory against Kanoo Travel. Juffali Benz piped Dabbagh. Red Sea Paints won against ACE Travel. Shalimar defeated Olympic Airways and Unesco Triumphed over Attar Travel.
Afkar Promo 7 keep their slate clean against Kanoo Travel
Afkar Promo 7 proved that their promotion to Division One was fully justified as they surprised Kanoo Travel by 4 wickets and almost 5 overs to spare.
Kanoo Travel posted a challenging total of 181 runs for 5 wickets in their quantum of overs and felt well placed for a victory. Old campaigner Sohail Butt (69) once again showed his class. After all the years he puts up the same fight and commitment for his team. His stamina and appetite for runs is still there. He hit three huge sixes and two fours. Rest of the runs he accumulated in ones and twos. Rashid Khursheed (17) departed after scoring three boundaries. Rabie Zubair (46-5 fours) looked well set for big score but was dismissed 4 short of 50. Majid Siddique (25-2 fours as well as six) played in his usual carefree style. Latif (3 for 24) was pick of the bowlers. Ramesh and Majid had wicket apiece. Facing a challenging total, Afkar Promo 7 reply received a jolt as Ali had its castle broken by Dilawar. But Faisal (99 run out) took up the challenge single-handedly. He had 15 hits to the ropes. Kanoo Travel bowlers had not met such ruthless treatment before. Pervaiz (09), Azhar (19), Majid (10), and Latif (24) lasted for awhile. Afkar Promo 7 raced to victory in 15th over. Aleem received the severest punishment but got 2 wickets for 61 runs.
Juffali Benz pip Dabbagh by four runs
Juffali Benz scored 154 runs for 5 wickets in their quantum of overs and then dismissed Dabbagh for 150 runs. Juffali Benz modest tally of 154 was made possible by timely knock of Imran (39-4 fours) and Asim (37-5 fours). Both played cautiously but availed every scoring opportunity. Hamid (16), Azhar Butt (17) and Zahid (11) were the other notable contributors. Farhan (05), Akram (09), Sultan (00), Usman (02) and Nadeem (06) were dismissed cheaply. Shakeel (4 for 28) wrecked Juffali Benz’s batting. He bowled 4 overs and picked wicket in each over. Yaseen also kept tidy length and claimed 3 scalps for 13 only.
In reply, Dabbagh lost their opener Naeem (02) in the second over. Zafar (32-4 fours) and Asad Butt (12) added 44 runs for 2nd wicket partnership. Asghar went for (06) and Dabbagh was looking down and done with but Shahzad (30) and Jameel (41-4 fours and a six) tilted match toward Dabbagh. Juffali Benz had Imran (14) and Yaseen (3) caught of Asim and Zahid bowling. Dabbagh chase ended at 150 i.e. four runs short of victory. Asim (2for 31), Hammad (2 for 35), and Hamed Butt (2 for 34) bowled well. Zahid picked one wicket for 24.
Red Sea Paints beat ACE Travel
Red Sea Paints shot ACE Travel out for a paltry 111 runs and then rattled the required runs for the loss of 3 wickets and 6 overs to spare. Akram, (3/13) Muneer (2/14) and Saleem (3/18) bowled nagging line and length and were well-supported by the fielders and gave torrid time to ACE Travel batsmen. ACE Travel was shot out for111. Only Mubashir (20 - 3 four), Abdullah (28 - 2 fours) and Sajjad (20 - 2 fours) brought semblance of some respectibility to the total. No other batsmen reached double figures. Requiring a modest score to get for victory, Red Sea Paints openers Shabbir (38-6 fours) and Shakeel (30-4 fours) hammered 71 runs between them. Saleem (12) hit 3 boundaries. Naveed (15-1 four) and Muneer (8) took Red Sea Paints to victory without any further loss. Shaukat with his well flighted deliveries got wickets of both openers for 16 runs.
Shalimar defeat Olympic Airways
Olympic Airways needed 178 runs for victory against Shalimar but could only reach 166. Shalimar lost their opener Tariq Jamal for 9 but Naveed Nawaz (38- 5 fours) and Zainul Salikeen (48 - 3 fours) played with positive frame of mind. Their partnership produced 53 runs in 6overs. Rahat Choudhary fired 37 with the help of a six and a four,Qasim chipped in with unbeaten 24 including 2 hits to the ropes. Shalimar posted a formidable total of 177 runs for 4 wickets. In reply, Olympic Airway suffered two early blows as Amanullah (16) and Shameem (9) were dismissed cheaply. Tariq (48 - 6 fours) and Shahid (24 n.o.) got their act together and sent Shalimar fielders on leather hunt. Olympic lost Irfan (03) and Habib (0) in quick succession. Ishtiaq joined Shahid. But Olympic Airways had fallen behind in the run rate. Ishtiaq using long handle hit 3 fours and a six in his unbeaten 41. Olympic Airways scored 166. Tariq Jamal picked 2 wickets for 19 runs.
Unasco triumph against Attar Travel
Unasco posted 170 runs in its quantum of overs and it proved to be a winning total as Attar Travel were dismissed for 138 runs only. Unasco front-line batsmen put up a dismal batting display as Altaf (0), Asghar (11) Imran (19) and Rafi (05) were all sent packing for 51 runs. But Naseer (33- 2 fours) and Afzal (48 - 2 sixes & 4 fours) turned tables over Attar. Their partnership yielded 56 valuable runs. Zahid in late flurry added 28 including 3 fours and a six. Unasco reached a challenging tally of 170 runs, whereas it looked at one stage that Unesco will hardly reach 100. Taraka (3/22 ) dealt early blows. Asad Malik (3/34) created problems for early batsmen but was punished by Zahid and Afzal. In reply, Attar Travel lost Asad Malik for one and Sarfaraz for 8. But Ghufran (45 - 5 fours) and Taraka (24) first dug in and later played confident looking shots.
