Defending champion Makarim Riyadh Airport Hotel started on the wrong foot, losing to Riyadh Conference Palace while Riyadh InterContinental Hotel convincingly won against Four Seasons Hotel in the 16th Annual Inter-Hotels Cricket Tournament.

This new 2014-2015 season of hotel cricket followed the successful 15th edition of the event that ended in February this year.

Twelve leading hotels entered the tournament. With Makarim in Group A are Al Faisaliah-Al Khozama Team B, Courtyard Marriott, Novotel, Riyadh Conference Palace and Sheraton Riyadh in Group A. Bracketed in Group B are Al Faisaliah Team A, Four Points by Sheraton Khaldia Riyadh, Four Seasons, InterContinental Riyadh, Riyadh Marriott and Ritz Carlton.

The best two teams from each group after the elimination rounds of this 16 overs format tournament will qualify for the semifinal and knock-out stage in the final rounds.

Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers through GM Paul C. Dunphy is the tournament host with support from all GMs of participating hotels. The tournament is being held for the benefit of the children of UNICEF.

Makarim led by Saleem Khan failed to overcome the strong challenge from Mohammed Rafik’s Riyadh Conference Palace as the latter won by 4 wickets.

Makarim won the toss and opted to bat. RCP with some tidy bowling saw the Makarim top order batting collapsed with Ashiq Hussain bowled out by Sahib Rahman on the 3rd ball of the first over and this partner Ismail Sadiq was also caught by Sahib. Makarim batsmen could not hold up against the bowling prowess of RCP and Makarim was all out for only 72 runs in 13 overs.

In reply, Riyadh Conference Palace enjoyed a sensible batting courtesy of Usman Mehmoud 32 runs with 4 sixes, Mohammed Rafik 10 and Sahib Rahman 7 and closed the game with 73 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 7 overs.

In the afternoon match between Riyadh InterContinental and Four Seasons, Intercon won the toss and opted to bat first.

InterCon team captain Sameer Bakshi suffered the first fall of the wicket on the second ball of Manshad.

However, this did not dampen the InterCon desire to win as the succeeding batsman Mohammed Javeed made 56 runs with 5 sixes and 5 fours and not out, while Thouseef Ahmed had 45 runs including 6 sixes, and the veteran Sadaqat Hussain added 36 with 3 sixes and one four for a total of 193 with 5 wickets down.

In reply, Four Seasons made only 101 in 14 overs all out. Only Abdul Qader and Shakeel made sensible batting with 17 runs each with Obaid adding 16. The others had minimal contributions.

Matches Friday

6:30 a.m. — Al Faisaliah Team A vs. Marriott

1:30 p.m — Courtyard Marriott vs. Faisaliah Team B