JEDDAH: Twenty-four teams are taking part in the MoneyGram Cricket Ke Badshah T20 Cricket Tournament backed by the Saudi Cricket Center (SCC) and organized by the Jeddah Cricket Association, which took off in Jeddah here last week.

The teams are divided into three groups, Premier Division (8 teams), Morning League (9 teams) and Afternoon League (7 teams).

Each Division will play matches on a league-cum-knockout format to decide the winner of each group. The winner of the tourney will qualify to play in the Champions League where the top nine teams from every association will play each other in another league-cum-knockout format to decide the MoneyGram Cricket Ke Badshah T20 Champion.

In the first week matches of the Premier Division Pakistan Green scored a 193-run win over Tamer, ARM overcame Mazco by 33 runs while Ace Travel struggled against Micro Engineering by 7 runs.

Ace Travel put up a fighting total of 215 for 5. Jawed slogged the bowlers with his big hits to compile a stylish 64 runs. Arsalan carried on from where Jawed left to remain unbeaten on 58 while Atta chipped in with 46 runs. Mujahid picked up 2 for 28.

In reply Micro Engineering gave a befitting reply and almost made it with useful contributions from Abid (42), Maqsood (52) and Rashad (30). Jawad bagged 2 for 36 and Atta, Sohail, Ibrahim and Saeed with a wicket stopped them at 208 for 9.

In another match of the same division, ARM kick started their campaign on a sedate note but lost wickets at regular intervals and were precariously placed at 114 for 3 after 15 overs although Thabrez was there at one end. However the arrival of Parvez Khan changed things. Thabrez and Parvez went into the attack and scored 94 runs in the next 5 overs to enable ARM end at 208 for 6. Thabrez hit a pugnacious 93 of 51 balls with 5 fours and 7 sixes while Parvez Khan punished all bowlers with his big hits scoring 71 off 31 balls with 7 sixes and 2 fours. The two put on 136 runs for 4th wicket. Nazeer chipped in with 23. Nasir picked up 2 for 26 for the bowling side.

Mazco started their reply on an aggressive note as their opening pair of Faisal (27) and Zaheer (28) put on 67 runs off 4.3 overs.

However, the rest of the batsmen who could not maintain the tempo were bowled out for 175 runs. Zeeshan impressed with his bowling and had figures of 4 for 22. Mansoor, Saadique, Sami and Abdul Raheem had a wicket each to give ARM a win by 33 runs.

Elsewhere, Pakistan Green amassed 339 for 5. Amir Shehzad played a hurricane knock of 124 runs off only 47 balls. He got good support from Shaan who was in an equally punishing mood as he hit a quick fire 76 off 37 balls. The two put on 199 runs for the 2nd wicket. Later, Asim continued to use the long handle down the order with an impressive 72 off 22 balls. Altaf, Arshad, Anwar, Khursheed and Aqeel toiled hard for a wicket each. After the hammering they received on the field, Tamer batsmen were demoralized and were all out for 146 runs. Aqeel 45 and Shahbaz 50 were the only batsmen who put up a fight. Rizwan (3 for 28) and Zahid (2 for 24) ripped through the top order while Asim Abbas wiped off the tail with 3 wickets for no runs, which gave Pakistan Green a huge win.

Morning League

In the first week matches KAIA trounced Saleheen by 9 wickets, Reel & Rom thrashed Pak Young by 86 runs, Butt Sports crushed Al Gudaid by 105 runs and MHA beat Al Boroj by 7 wickets.

Breif scores:

Saleheen 163: (Nadeem 40, Irfan 20) lost to KAIA 167 for 1: (Majid 73, Neelam 36 n.o.) by 9 wickets.

Reel & Rom 207 for 3: (Nisar 82, Wajid 26, Rashid 33, Irfan 33 n.o; Afridi 2 for 22) beat Pak Young 122: (Sajid 21, Zafar 17, Abdullah 15; Rashid 4 for 20, Qasim 4 for 20) by 86 runs.

Butt Sports 235 for 5: (Mohammed Iqbal 54, Junaid 41, Atif 56, Imran 52 n.o; Amir 2 for 37, Imtiaz 2 for 33) beat Al-Gudaid 130: (Asad 39, Tariq 40 no; Umar 2 for 21, Imran 2 for 11, Waqas 2 for 15) by 105 runs.

Al-Boraj 208 for 6: (Rehan 73, Usman 40, Fahad 28; Riyaz 2 for 38, Saffar 2 for 37) lost to MHA 210 for 3: (Zainul Haq 70, Shaad 59, Hazrat Al 22) by 7 wickets

Afternoon League

In the Afternoon League matches, Munch Bakery eased past Peeran-XI by 74 runs, ICAD routed Peeran Warriors by 50 runs while Ktaykit got the better of Old Students by 4 wickets.

Munch Bakery 289 for 1: (Zain 106, Tariq Jamal 79 Ibaad 80) beat Peeran XI 206 for 6: (Kashif 70, Tariq 44) by 74 runs.

ICAD 188: (Shakeel 45, Jinto 41, Imran 27; Riaz 2 for 26) beat Peeran Warriors 138: ( Mohsin 2 for 17, Shakeel 2 for 9, Adil 2 for 24)) by 50 runs.

Old Students 188 for 6: (Naveed 69, Shahid 30, Sajjad 23) lost to Ktaykit 189 for 6: (Sarfaraz 112, Amanullah 2 for 24, Naveed 2 for 30) by 4 wickets.