By Dr. Gayas Ahmed Sattar
RIYADH — Champions Kricket Klub (CKK) and Lahore Badshah recorded their first win in the fourth Youm Al-Watani Cup (YWC-16). CKK defeated Riyadh Aces by 7 wickets and Lahore Badshah beat Pakistan Falcons by 6 wickets. It was their first match for all the four teams.
Irfan Mushtaq of Amer Holidays won the Pink Cap for the best batsman of the week and Samiullah of the same team clinched the Red Cap for the best bowler.
In the fourth match of the YWC-16, Riyadh Aces captain Umar Rana elected to bat. Playing on a fine batting track, Riyadh Aces could muster only 230 in 34.5 overs —the lowest total of the tournament till now. Only top three batsmen — Saddam Khan (56 — 39 balls, 4x9), Hassan Javed (51— 32, 4x9) and captain Umar (48 — 4x6) — got the scoreboard moving. After the drinks break, first Imran Kafayath (3-48) and then Ismail (3-35) polished of the batsmen in quick succession, supported by Nouman Asghar (2-32) and Ali Shahid (2-45).
CKK chased the target of 232 in 25.2 overs, losing only 3 wickets. CKK lost opener Ali Shahid early but Imran Kafayat, who bowled well in the morning, also batted well in the post lunch session for an unbeaten 100 (68 — 4x16).
Imran’s partnership, first with Najeed Asghar (45 — 35, 8x4) and then with Nouman Asghar (55 — 29, 4x9, 6x1) completed the run chase. Hassan Javed (2-42) scalped wickets for Aces.
Imran Kafayat won the player of the match award for his all-round performance.
In the second match of the day and fifth of the tournament out of the 20 league matches to be played, Lahore Badshah defeated Pakistan Falcons by 6 wickets with more than 4 overs to spare. Winning the toss and opting to bat, captain Hamza Abbasi top scored with 80 (54, 4x8, 6x1) with fine support from Yasir Ahmed (65 — 61, 4x5), Mohammed Faisal (48 — 37, 4x6), Waqar Ahmed (45 — 30, 4x3, 6x1) and Ahmed Junaid (36 — 28-4x5). Falcons got a formidable total of 317-9 in the allotted 40 overs. The total score would have been more but Yasir Maqbool’s fine bowling restricted the batsmen. Yasir, 5-55 from 7 overs, got the first five-wicket haul of the tournament. Abdullah got 2-35.
Badshah team got a good start from openers Mudassir Iqbal (92 — 43, 4x10, 6x5) and Malik Fahad (36 — 17, 4x5, 6x1). Imran Khan (58 — 48, 4x7), Adnan Ayub (25 — 4x3) and an unbeaten 82 (60, 4x12) from Yasir Maqbool helped the team in reaching the target.
Yasir’s performance with the ball and the bat earned him the Player of the match award. Hamza Abassi bowled well for figures of 3-57 but did not get support from other end to trouble the Lahore Badshahs.
Friday’s matches: Match 6 — Sama Steel vs. Lahore Lions (RCA ground 4) at 7:15 a.m. Match 7 — Pakistan Falcons vs. GK Stars (ground 5) at 7:15 a.m. Match 8 — KFSH Blues vs. CKK (ground 6) at 7:15 a.m.
