Nestle Milo faces ALS Warriors in WPCA Summer final

By Dr. Sayed Ziauddin JEDDAH — Nestle Milo looking to be the most balanced side of the tournament thumped Waqas Malik XI, while ALS Warriors snatched a win from the jaws of defeat against Friends XI in the Summer Afternoon Tournament semifinals here. Nestle Milo thrashed Waqas Malik XI by 8 wickets. Waqas Malik, put into bat, was bowled out for 134. Hafiz Adeel Ali hit 36 as he added 42 with Azeem (6). Waqas XI then lost wickets in a heap to be tottering at 69 for 5 from 42 for 1. Rana Haroon then tried to repair the damage by smashing 47 in 32 balls with 3 fours and a six and Junaid made 14. Abdullah Zahid bowled magnificently and picked up 3-36, Ehsaan Noni 3-19, Adalat 1-19, Azeem 1-16 and Ijaz Butt 1-20. Nestle Milo with full of confidence after beating the mighty Crown Steel in the quarterfinals was not complacent and went about the chase in a clinical fashion to reach 135 for 2 in 107 balls. Ijaz Butt stroked 30 as he added 84 with Man-of-the-Match Imran Sarwar (64 not out). Azeem remained unbeaten on 19. It was a clinical and professional approach from a side that looks the most balanced in the tournament. The match was officiated by Kashif Mirza and Zafar. In the other semifinal, ALS Warriors trounced Friends XI by 5 wickets in a high-scoring encounter. Friends XI, opting to bat first, racked up 244 for 1. Amir Sajjad making most of the spilled chances on a hot and humid afternoon blasted an unbeaten 132 in 58 balls studded with 10 fours and 9 sixes. He stitched together 160 in 84 balls for the opening stand with Waqar (61 in 39 balls). Once the partnership was broken, Wajahat Shah hit 29. Amjad claimed 1-48. ALS Warriors, in reply, struggled in the beginning but reached the victory target of 245 for 5 with 11 balls to spare. Emaduddin hammered 68 in 30 balls with the help of 3 fours and 3 sixes. He added 88 runs for the second wicket with Mohammed Amjad (15) after Talha fell early. Abdullah Essa then hit 47 in 20 balls to take the total to 135 for 5 in the 11th over. The Warriors required 110 runs in 54 balls. It looked like a tall order, but Mohammed Amjad Jutt, adjudged Man of the Match for his scintillating 70 off 27 balls, did the trick. He added 113 runs off 44 balls for the unbroken 6th wicket with Imran Azam (32 not out). Samer took 2-24, Umair 1-66 and Saleem Khan 1-54. The match was officiated by Waseeq Sherwani and Mian Zafar. The final between Nestle Milo and ALS Warriors will be played Friday (Aug. 12) on Ground 9.