Thrilling matches in SAIB Cricket Tournament

Rustam Ali RIYADH — KFSH Blues and Sama Steel scored comfortable wins in Round 5 of the SAIB Cricket Tournament, which is organized by Riyadh Cricket Association (RCA) and sponsored by Saudi Arabian Investment Bank. Al-Kharaj League KFSH Blues beat Riyadh Aces by 76 runs in the 40-over championship. Batting first, KFSH Blues posted 345 for 9. Khurram top scored with 73, Munawar stroked 60 and Ayaz 33. Zohib took 3 wickets and Mohib 2. In reply, Riyadh Aces was restricted to 269 for 9. Rizwan again displayed his form, but was unlucky to be caught on 99. Naveed scored 71. Imtiaz, Iftikhar and Abdul Malik claimed 2 wickets each. Falcons lost to Sama Steel by 63 runs. Sama Steel scored 347 for 9. Ramzan (75), Hashim (65) and Kashif (63) scored fifties. Falcons could manage only 284 in reply. Ramzan picked up 4 wickets and Adnan 3. Hayer League Indian Strikers flattened Riyadh Panthers by 7 wickets. Riyadh Panthers compiled 155 for 7. Bilal (45), Raza (32) and Shahzeb (32) were the main contributors. Ashraf took 2 wickets. Indian Strikers reached 156 for 3 in 15.4 overs. Sunil hit 43, Mithun 41 and Junaid 27. Usman took 2 wickets. Watan Pal cruised to a 2-wicket win over Black Caps. Black Caps piled up 175 for 7. Suliman bagged 3 wickets and Sheraz 2. Watan Pal reached the target for the loss of 8 wickets in 19.5 overs. Sulaiman top scored with 41 and Aftab managed 32. Fast humbled Rising Star by 2 wickets. Rising Star put on 185. Majeed took 3 wickets, while Ayaz and Sulaiman picked up 2 each. Fast scored 186 in 19.3 overs. Ijaz blasted 32 and Ayaz 30. Lahore Badshah Green crushed AKCC by 46 runs. Lahore Badshah Green was all out for 188 with Zeeshan hitting 72 and Afzal 41. Kamal and Sheraz scalped 3 wickets each. In reply, Zahdin’s 5-wicket haul helped Lahore bundle out AKCC for 142. Usman took 3 wickets and Gohar 2. Kamal top scored with 45 and Sultan added 34. Kingdom Warriors lost to Insaf by 2 wickets. Kingdom Warriors scored 162. Zeeshan grabbed 3 wickets, while Imran and Wajid took 2 each. Insaf won the match in 19 overs. Zeeshan made 37, Hammad 26 and Zahid 25. White Star won against Punjab Stars by 7 wickets. Punjab Stars was all out for 116. Sagheer showed some resistance with 32. Naeem picked up 3 wickets, while Rashid, Irfan and Umer grabbed 2 each. White Star chased down the target in 12 overs. Naeem smashed 62 and Irfan 24. Thales thumped PTI by 2 wickets. PTI posted 205 with Irfan blasting 76, Qader 38. Waheed and Tabrez claimed 3 wickets each, while Abdul Qadir and Aziz took 2 each. Thales was home in 19.5 overs. Qaiser (63), Tabrez (36) and Abdul Qadir (31) ensured the win. Green Bangla beat Riyadh Royals by 29 runs. Green Bangla racked up 193 for 8. Alamin (48) and Zakir (35) batted well. Riyadh Royals could score only 164. Abdullah claimed 4 wickets, Al Amin 3 and Badol 2.