By Syed Mussarat Khalil
JEDDAH — Swashbuckling centuries by Muhammad Mouzzam and Muhammad Hamayun of Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) and Waqas Fida of Najran Cricket Association (NCA), fine all-round performance by captain Farasat Ullah of Aseer Cricket League (ACL) and good bowling performance by Imran Hussain of NCA were the highlights of Group A matches on the opening day of first Mobily-SCC National Champions Trophy 2019, sponsored by Mobily Telecom Company Saudi Arabia and organized by Saudi Cricket Centre (SCC).
In the Preliminary Qualifier round played at ACL grounds in Abha, WPCA and ACL qualified for the Super-Six round from Group A, comprising WPCA, ACL, NCA and JRCA. Six matches were played at ACL grounds.
In the first match, WPCA defeated NCA by 126 runs. WPCA, aided by a record opening partnership between Mouzzam and Hamayun, amassed 259-3 in 20 overs. Mouzzam made a fine 100 off 56 balls with 3 sixes and 12 fours, while Hamayun scored an elegant 152 off 64 balls with 7 sixes and 19 fours. Both remained unbeaten. In reply, NCL could manag 133-7. Waqas Fida hit 62 off 49 balls with 3 hits to the fence. Arslan Ali made 15 and Azhar Mehmood 13. Ibrar ul Haq and Ihsan took 2 wickets each for 26 and 25 runs, respectively. Man of the Match: Mohammed Hamayun.
Summarized results (Group A):
ACL beat JRCA by 18 runs. ACL 214-7 (Captain Farasat Ullah 65, Abrar Mushtaq 35, Zaigham Abbas 27, Tahir Rashid 25, Nabeel Usman 24, Rashid Abbasi 21, Waseem Akhtar 2 for 39, Mohsin Liaqat 2 for 39, Imran Qaiser 2 for 31). JRCA 196-6 (Aqeel Pervez 47, Mohsin Liaqat 36, Waseem Akhtar 28, Imran Qaiser 23, Mujahid Ali 20, Farasat Ullah 3-38). MOM: Farasat Ullah (ACL).
ACL got the better of NCA by 84 runs. ACL 234-9 (Zaigham Abass 82, Muhammad Nadeem 51, Nabeel Usman 22, Muhammad Adnan Ayub 19, Abrar Mushtaq 18, Tahir Rasheed 27 not out, Imran Hussain 4-25, Waqas Fida 2-47, Muhammad Irfan 2-35). NCA 150-9 (Habib Ul Rehman 43, Muhammad Irfan 32, Sufiyan Shakor 17, Owais ul Nisar 21 not out, Nabeel Usman 3-23, Farasat ullah 2-26). MOM: Zaigham Abbas (ACL).
NCA defeated JRCA by 5 wickets. JRCA 233-7 (Mohammad Tahir Mushtaq 69, Aqeel Pervaiz 36, Waseem Akhtar 44, Imran Qaiser 18, Mujahid Ali 18, Mohsin Liaqat 18, Owais ul Nisar 2 for 51, Mazhar Khan 2 for 49). NCA 236-5 in 17.3 overs (Waqas Fida 131 off 52 with 11 sixes and 9 fours, Sufiyan Shakor 31, Habib ul Rehman 24, Azhar Mehmood 23, Imran Qaiser 2 for 39, Faraz Ayub Khan 2 for 33). MOM: Waqas Fida (NCA).
WPCA defeated JPRA by 5 wickets. JRCA 172-8 (Mohsin Ali Liaqat 69, Captain Shoaib Ali 2 for 33). WPCA 176-5 in 17.4 overs (Malik Muhammad Naeem 79, Ahmed Shamsuddin Kavalkatte 32, Ibrar ul Haq 16, Muhammad Moazzam 14, Muhammad Akram 18 not out, Waseem Akhtar 2 for 34, Tanveer Ahmed Basher 2 for 32). MOM: Malik Muhammad Naeem (WPCA).
WPCA defeated ACL by 101 runs. WPCA 249-3 (Muhammad Moazzam made second century — 100 off 59 with 5 sixes and 10 fours, Shamsudheen Englam Purat 69, Abdul Wahid 49, Ibrar ul Haq15, Farasat ullah 3-40). NCA all out 148 in 19.2 overs (Zaighum Abbas 38, Abrar Mushtaq 23, Farasat Ullah 23 not out, Nabeel Usman 18 not out, Abdul Wahid 3-32, Imran Yousuf 3-35, Malik Naeem 2-3).
