Centuries galore in WPCA

Dr. Sayed Ziauddin JEDDAH — Javed Iqbal, Anees Malik and Abdullah Khan dazzled with centuries in WPCA Tournaments sponsored and managed by the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA). Premier Division Crown Steel defeated ALS Warriors by 30 runs in this 35-over league. Crown Steel, opting to bat, started badly. The Steelmen were tottering at 68 for 5 when Javed Iqbal blasted 159 in 88 balls (4 sixes and 17 fours) and added 131 for the 8th wicket partnership with Wahid Khan (34) to take the total to 251. Abdulaleem was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 45, Shahbaz grabbed 3-49 and Amjad Jutt 2-47. ALS Warriors started well with opener Furqan making 53, Mohammed Amjad 24, Immad 45, Amjad Jutt 17 and Abdulaleem and Ramazan identical 16 to get to 221. Ghulam Riyaz scalped 3-50 and Waheed Khan 3-63. Tasleem had 3 victims behind the stumps. Friends XI downed AOT by 37 runs. Friends, opting to bat first, piled up 275 for 4. Anees Malik took charge after early setbacks to smash 123 in 99 balls. He added a match-winning 189 off 146 balls for the 3rd wicket to get to 234 with Abdullah Essa hammering 81. AOT was restricted to 238. Hasnain Malik added 41, Aqeel 27, Faisal Mehmood 41, Rafeeq 26 and Faisal Iqbal unbeaten 22. Wajahat Shah grabbed 3 for 43, Umair 3-42 and Samer 3-53. Afternoon T20 Lothers edged Thales Group by 11 runs. Lothers piled up 165 for 9 in 15 overs as Shamsuddin stroked 48, Shibu 30, Umar 28 and Suraj 18. Waqas took 2-4, Rashid 2-19 and Amjad Iqbal 2-44. Thales replied with 154 for 8. Mustafa compiled 74 as he added 63 with Yasir (43 not out). Omar took 3 for 25. APF had the better of Fuchs Alhamrani by 16 runs. APF racked up 172 for 8 through Ali Ansar (39), Ehtesham Ashraf (53), Adnan (18) and Siddique (15). Mansoor took 2-20 and Mohsen 2-41. Fuchs could manage only 156 for 9. Nazaish hammered 60, Mansoor 29 and Irfan Anjum 18. Siddique grabbed 4 for 19 and Yasir 2-15. Nestle Milo had the last laugh against Awesome XI by 30 runs. Nestle Milo racked up 221 for 5. Aijaz Butt belted 78 in 41 balls while Abdullah Zahid hammered 77 in 45 balls as the duo added 131 for the opening stand. Imran Sarwar contributed 16. Awesome XI, in reply, was left stranded at 191 for 7. Shakir made 46 and Khadim 19 as the two added 73. Khalil notched 52 and Waqas 30. Osama Amjed scalped 3 for 45, Azeem 2-25 and Irfan Alvi 2-40. Zultrack thrashed Al-Safri by 74 runs. Zultrack plundered 177 for 7. Subaiyyal smashed 67, Mohsen 24, Muzaffar 21, Qaim Khan 20, while Waheed and Obaid added 16 each. Aftab Malik scalped 2-23 and Muneeb Anwar 2-33. Al-Safri was bundled out for 103. Manjeet Kumar scored 34 and Waseeq Sherwani 27. Qaim Khan was the wrecker-in-chief with 4 for 19, Yousuf scalped 3-18 and Muzaffar 2-8. Jotun Paints humbled Contraco by 4 wickets. Contraco posted 143 for 5. Balale made 23, Amer 50 and Shahbaz Awan 29. Shafeeq Rafeeq had 2-35. Jotun Paints reached the winning target (147) for 6. Shabbir hit 45 as he added 77 runs with Sajid (35). Umar added 20. Shakeel took 2-22, Abbas 2-33 and Yasin 2-27. NAI Juffali thrashed Hyderabad Strikers by 5 wickets. Hyderabad Strikers produced 159 for 3 through Javeed Ahmed making 79 in 49 balls, while Sohail scored 37. NAI Juffali was home (160) for 5. Asad Mushtaq scored 68 in 32 balls and Sardar remained unbeaten on 48. Sarfaraz scalped 2-14 and Mushtaq 2-14.