Teams batting first, with the exception of one, came out on top in first and second week matches of Premier Cup sponsored by the Kanoo Group of Companies and organized by Jeddah Cricket Association here recently. The first match saw Kanoo Travel beat Natco by nine runs in Kanoo Premier Division. Batting first Kanoo Travel managed to score 163 runs for the loss of five wickets in 18 overs. Natco in reply could score only 154-6 in the allotted overs. Mohammad Riaz Chukkan 49, Haroon Abdullah Bin Mahfooz 41 and Amer scored an unbeaten knock of 29 runs for Kanoo. Attaur Rehman had three wickets, while Jamsheed and Hussein Abbas bagged one wicket each for Natco. In reply Natco skipper Humayun Farooq made 69 runs, while Umar scored 26 and Ali 17. Akbar claimed two wickets and Mohammad Riaz Chukkan and Umar bagged one wicket each for Kanoo Travel. In the second match Kanoo Club beat Natco by to runs. Playing its first match in the Premier Division Kanoo Club was bowled out for 145 in 18 overs. Captain Majid Siddiqui made 35 runs, while Tabrez added 29, Najamuddin 19, Rashid Khurshid 11 and Sami Khan 10 runs. Natco skipper Humayun took 2-24, Jamshed 3-30 and Umar 1-47. In reply Natco was bundled out for 143 in 17.2 overs. For Natco Atta Ur Rehman scored 41 runs, Jamshed 27, Umer 15, Samar 13 not out. Majid Sheikh claimed three wickets for 20 runs and Mansoor bagged one wicket for Kanoo. Kanoo Travel in another outing beat Jeddah Projects Cricket Club (JPCC) by 47 runs. Taking the strike first Kanoo Travel scored 211-4 and then bowled out JPCC for 164-8. Opener Mazhar played a match-winning innings of 94 runs off 50 balls. His opening partner Syed Kaleem scored 16 runs, Riyaz Chuckan hit 47 and Majid 17 to take the total to 211-4 in 17 overs. Anwar took three wickets, while Mujahed bagged one for JPCC. In reply JPCC could score only 164-8 in its quota of 17 overs. Jawad made 78 runs, while Parvez Asim hit 29 runs and Shareef contributed 10. Majid Bhatti claimed 3-28, while Amer, Imran, Ibrahim Bin Mehfooz and Mahmoud bagged one wicket each for Kanoo Travel. Another match saw Jawar Al Jazira thrash Zinda Tilismat of Hyderabad by seven wickets. Batting first Zinda Tilismat was all out for 132 as Jawar Al Jazira made 135-3 in 10.1 overs. Zinda Tilismat opener Jawed Ahmed made 40, while Irfan added 46 and Madan remained unbeaten on 17. Kamran claimed 4-31, Adnan 2-37, Shan Manzoor 2-13 and Ramzan 1-20. Jawar openers Shan Manzoor and Zulfiqar went for ducks and No. 3 batsman Irfan could score only three runs, but Adnan with his unbeaten 80 runs and Kamran with 19 not out steered their team to seven-wicket win. Abdullah bagged two wickets, while Zaman took one.
