By Dr. Sayed Ziauddin
JEDDAH — Plenty of centuries were belted on the last day of the pool matches, led by Abu Baker Nagra of IDB (218), Rabih of ATC (103), Ali of NNG Sports (102) and Imran Qaiser of Al-Kabbani Cricket Group (113). Anwar Chandi of Nesma Holding also blasted a fine 93 in the SCC Morning Challenge Cup 2017, sponsored by Saudi Cricket Centre (SCC) and managed by WPCA.
Black Hawks, ATC, Nesma Holding, Red Sea ALJ, Super CC, Crown Blue, Universal CC and Sadafco got through to quarterfinals.
Black Hawks defeated Reel & Rom Spikes by 9 wickets. Reel & Rom Spikes was bowled out for 118. Ilyas scored 26, Kumail 22 and Mustafa 15. Abdulrafey grabbed 2-15, while Waqas, Amir, Adnan, Sohail and Ehsan got a scalp each. Black Hawks achieved the victory (121-1) in 86 balls. Fahad smashed an unbeaten 63 in 35 balls as he added 99 in 70 balls with Rehan (36). Imran took 1 wicket.
ATC defeated Crown Blue by 105 runs. ATC racked up 213-2. Rabih slammed a classical unbeaten 103 in 57 balls, studded with 12 fours and a six, Kashif 52 and Basharat an unbeaten 32. Imran and Rizwan had one wicket each. Crown Blue, in reply, was bowled out for 118. Faizi stroked 35, Sardar 16 and Qurban 16. Basahart scalped 3-21, while Rabih, Irfan, Inaam and Muzammil took one wicket each.
IDB trounced NNG Sports by 88 runs. IDB plundered a massive 293-1. Abubaker Nagra blasted an unbeaten 218 in just 88 balls, studded with 23 boundaries and 12 sixes. His hundred came in 41 balls and 150 in 56 balls. A century in T20 match is an achievement, but this was a doduble ton. Abubaker during his marathon innings stitched 289 runs in 118 balls for the opening stand with Qawi who made 54 in 33 balls. NNG Sports responded with 205-7. Ali smashed 102 in 54 balls with 13 fours and 2 sixes, Noman 39 and Salahuddin 18. Uzair scalped 2-49, while Islam, Waseem, Gulfam, Siraj and Imtiyaz got a scalp each.
Nesma Holding beat Red Sea ALJ by 7 wickets. Red Sea ALJ plundered 217-4. Amir Gujjar smashed 96 in 48 balls with 5 sixes and 6 fours. He first made 80 in 37 balls with Bilal Kayani (33) and then 51 with Ali (11). Ghayour stroked 30 and Tanveer Zamane 18. Zafar took 2-32 and Imran Mani 1. Nesma Holding achieved victory (218-3) in 118 balls. Anwar Chandi smashed 93 in 38 balls with 13 fours and 3 sixes. He added 100 for the second wicket with Nadeem who made 63 in 36 balls. Saleem Mehar remained unbeaten on 27 in 16 balls with 4 fours. Ameer, Bilal and Tanveer Zamane had a scalp each.
Al-Kabbani Cricket Group downed Apex Express by 8 wickets. Apex Express posted 159 for 5. Naeem hit 28 as he added 53 with Abubaker 25. Asad stroked 40, Sajid an unbeaten 30 and Farhan 16. Imran scalped 3-28, while Irfan and Asad took one wicket each. Al-Kabbani Cricket Group chased 160-2 in 80 balls. Imran Qaiser blasted an unbeaten 113 in 51 balls with 21 fours and 2 sixes as he stitched together 110 in 46 balls for the unbroken third wicket with Zubair Zaidi (12). Abubaker took 1 wicket.
Behar International Fighters defeated IISJ by 7 wickets. IISJ produced 178-6. Saad scored 37, Faisal 24, Omar Waseem 21, Abdullah unbeaten 54 in 26 balls and Yassir 15. Nazim took 2-17, Rehan 2-22 and Moeen 2-25. Behar International Fighters reached 180 for 3 in 99 balls. Nazim stroked 48 as he added 120 runs in 64 balls with top scorer Ziaul Haq (75 in 39 balls). Moeen remained unbeaten on 24. One wicket each was taken by Faisal, Omer and Khalid.
