JEDDAH — Skipper Ather Abdul Quddus’ match-winning unbeaten innings of 98 against Pak Green put Pepsi Deccan Knights in the driver’s seat in the JCA Ace-Initial Saudi Premier League T20 Tournament here.
The tournament is jointly sponsored by Ace Travel & Tours and Initial Service Group and co-sponsored by ALS Borderless Logistics, Jotun Saudi Arabia, Khind Electronics, Mizo Juices (Arrow Foods), Sipco (Pepsi) and UT Lines.
MCH Premier beat start-studded Ace Travel by 35 runs. MCH Premier, opting to bat first, lost its openers cheaply but its star batsman Qamar Awan (65 off 30 balls) played freely. Shahbaz added 23, Naeem 40 and Abu Huraira 19 as MCH put on a respectable total of 192-9. Left-arm fast bowler Sami took 2-13, Faheem Pasha 2-20, Moazam 2-40 and Shahzad Ahmed one.
In reply, Ace Travel could score only 159-8. Abdul Wahid made 61, Sami 31 and Parvez Khan 20. Abu Huraira scalped 3-36, Jamil 2-17, while Adnan Liaqat, Usman and Shahbaz had one wicket each. Man of the Match — Qamar Awan.
Pepsi Deccan Knights scored a nail-biting win over Pak Green. Pak Green scored 173-9. Shan Manzoor top nicked 64, Jaweed 30 and Amer Sajjad 25. Wajid Samdani took 4-39, including a hat trick, his brother Naveed claimed 3-24, while skipper Ather Abdul Quddus and veteran leg-spinner Ishaq had a wicket each.
Pepsi Deccan Knights lost wickets at regular intervals, but Abdul Quddus stood like a wall against the tidy bowling of Pak Green. He remained unbeaten on 98 and hit the winning shot on the last ball of the innings. Najeeb added 30, Wahid Samdani 15 and Ayaz 14. Azam and Asim Abbasi took 2 wickets each.
The win pits Pepsi Deccan Knight against ACE Travel in Qualifier 2 since ACE lost to MCH in Qualifier 1. Man of the Match — Ather Abdul Quddus. — SG
