By Rustam Ali
RIYADH — KFSH Blues emerged champions of AMEX Cricket Tournament after defeating Riyadh Aces in the final. KFSH captain Nasir Abbasi hit centuries in semifinal and final. The tournament, organized by Riyadh Cricket Association (RCA), was sponsored by American Express Saudi Arabia.
Al-Kharaj League
KFSH Blues defeated Riyadh Aces by 41 runs in the final. Batting first, KFSH Blues tallied 392-7. Nasir Abbasi played a captain's knock of 170 off 96 balls. Ayaz supported with 80, while Iftikhar scored 31. Irshad and Salam took 2 wickets each. Riyadh Aces managed 351, in reply. Irshad Mubashir produced a fighting innings of 165 off 94 balls. Awais and Nadeem scored 50 and 33, respectively. Mateen picked up 3 wickets, while Usman, Nadeem and Iftikhar claimed 2 wickets each. Nasir Abbasi was declared Man of the Match.
Earlier in semifinals, KFSH Blues humbled Pak Shaheen by 6 wickets. Pak Shaheen scored 360-9. Abdul Waheed was unlucky to get caught on 94, Abdul Wahab smashed 89. Usman, Asad and Manzoor betted well making 36, 38 and 47, respectively. Nadeem Babar was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets. Saqib took 2.
KFSH Blues got to the target in 35.4 overs. Nasir Abbasi scored a stand out 102. Nadeem Babar showed his class with bat as well making 63. Khurram and Adnan scored 50 each. Ali Sher took 2 wickets. Nadeem Babar was declared Man of the Match.
Riyadh Aces beat Lahore Badshah by 6 wickets. Lahore Badshah posted 334-9. Hisham smashed 101 and Yasir 56. Waqas grabbed 4 wickets. In reply, Riyadh Aces chased the target in 35.2 overs. Irshad scored 94 and Zohaib 47. But it was Owais who took Aces to victory with an unbeaten 142. Bilal took 2 wickets. Owais was declared Man of the match.
Diriyah League
Baloch Fighters and Indian strikers qualified for the final. Baloch Fighters defeated KAMS by 9 wickets. KAMS posted 184-6 through Das (64), Naveed (45) and Ibrar (41). Abu Baker took 2 wickets. Sadaqat (50), Abu Baker (79) and Farhan (39) gave Fighters a thumping win in the 15th over.
Shadin Bangla lost to Indian Strikers by 8 wickets. Shadin Bangla was bowled out for 137. Rony resisted with 24. Sajith picked up 3 wickets. Indian Strikers reached the target in 16.1 overs. Sunil played another unbeaten and a match-winning innings of 71. Ashok helped with 31.
In the quarterfinals, Baloch Fighters thumped Knight Hawks by 69 runs. Baloch Fighters amassed 249. Sadaqat played another dominating innings of 139. Farhan helped with 37. Noman got 3 wickets and Ameet 2. Knight Hawks managed 180. Uzair blasted 65 and Asad 24. Abu Baker and Farhan picked up 2 wickets each.
Karachi Kings were crushed by Indian Strikers. Kings scored 227-9. Aftab and Bilal smashed 70 each. Anees took 3 wckets and Ashraf 2. Indian Strikers won the match in 18.3 overs. Prasanth made 78. Sunil then took Indians to victory with an unbeaten 100.
KAMS defeated Gujrat Lions by 32 runs. Naveed (50), Shoaib (47) and Himayt (39) took KAMS to 200-5. Yousef claimed 3 wickets. Gujrat Lions scrabbled to 168 in reply. Nishat remained not out on 58 and Salman scored 31. Zaheer grabbed 3 wickets, while Sajid and Kamil got 2 each.
Phoenix lost to Shadin Bangla by 5 wickets. Phoenix posted 187-6. Subayyal top scored with 63 and Furqan hit 48. Habib picked up 2 wickets. Jane (50), Atique (37) and Rashid (34) took Shadin Bangla home in 19.3 overs.
