RIYADH — New franchise Saudi Digital Marketing Hail Heroes from Jeddah, Alga Tabuk Titans and Delta Najran Jewels from Riyadh registered their first wins in Youm Al-Watani Cup (YWC 2015). Syed's Najd Najams and Dream India Saudi Gems consolidated their positions by winning their third straight games. Saudi DM Hail Heroes recorded victory after losing the first two games because of the fine all-round display by Player-of-the-Match Khuram. Electing to bat first, Hail made 168-6 against Shams Abha Avians. Khuram 40 (19 balls – 4x4, 6x2) and Zaheer 32 (24 – 4x1, 6x2) contributed runs for Hail and Salman (4-39) took wickets for Abha. Shams, despite Younus' 34 (20 – 4x1, 6x4) was all out for 132 in 13.4 overs. Khuram (4-38) and Inayat (3-40) were the main destroyers of Shams as Hail won by 67 runs. Alga Tabuk Titans thrashed Friendi Jubail Jaguars by 6 wickets. Electing to bat first, Friendi was bundled out for 124 in 16 overs, thanks to the steady bowling of Abdul Aziz (4-27), Masood (3-15) and Imran (2-29). Only Omar (21) and Azhar (18) resisted for a while. Alga reached 130-4 in 12.2 overs with runs coming from Jaleel 33 (18 – 4x5, 6x1), Irshad 29 (23 – 4x3, 6x1), Hashim (22) and Sameer (18). Dream India Saudi Gems registered a 68-run victory over AR Dammam Fighters for its third win to move to the top of Group B. Opting to bat first, Dream India made a daunting 251-8. Arif 71 (36 – 4x6, 6x5), Imran Mani 34 (24 – 6x3), Akbar 32 (11 – 4x1, 6x4), S. Imran 31 (9 – 6x5) scored for Gems. AR's Imran took 3-45. Fighters, in reply, scored 183-8 through Imran 45 (18 – 4x1, 5x6), Azam 29 (16 – 4x1, 6x3) and Saeed 25 (16 – 4x1, 6x3). Ibrahim (3-39) and Zakir (2-41) shared the wickets. Arif was adjudged the Player of the Match. Mazaya Arab Royals took full points from Mashal Taif Tigers with a 32-run win. Mazaya scored 172-8 after calling the coin right. Moin hit 42 (18 – 4x3, 6x3), Fazil 22 and Salahuddin 22 for Royals. Ramesh was the pick of the bowlers with 5-28. Sadat (62 — 33, 4x4, 6x4) fought against the accurate bowling of Zaki (3-24) to lift the team to 140-7. Zaki was rightly chosen the Player of the Match. Mir Saudi Stallions captain Shahjahan won the toss and after an early wicket loss stabilized his team with 74 (39 – 4x5, 6x5) to put on 169-4 against Oubler Riyadh Ryders. Salman took 2-25. Oublers fell short by 15 runs after going neck and neck till Amer (52 — 29, 4x2, 6x5) was at crease. Oublers could make only 154-8 due to fine bowling by Ashiq (2-33) and Ahmed (2-27) in the death overs. Aashiq won the Player of the Match award. Saleem of Syed Najd Najms continued his fine show with bat and ball to defeat Abad Yanbu Warriors by 8 wickets. Electing to bat first, Abad Warriors scored 191-8 with Asif (57 — 30, 4x3, 6x6), Iqbal (44 — 30, 4x3, 6x3) and Shageer (34 — 13, 4x3, 6x3) among the scores. Saleem took 3-35. Najd reached 192 in 13 overs for the loss of 2 wickets. Saleem made 70 (31 – 4x3, 6x8), Amir 74 (27 – 4x2, 6x9) and Arshad 40 (19 – 4x2, 6x4). Saleem got his third Player of the Match award in as many matches, but narrowly missed the JAMIA-sponsored Star of the Day plum which went to Saudi Digital hero Khuram for his all-round performance. Interactive Jeddah Jockeys fell short by 20 runs as HS Khobar Knights earned its second win. Khobar posted 182-6 with Bipin (48 — 29, 4x3, 6x3), Deep (39 — 16, 4x4, 6x3) and Naushad (25 — 11, 6x4) among the runs. Jeddah started aggressively with Asif making 45 (16 – 4x2, 6x3) and Shahzad and Rahman contributing 23 each. But it could not maintain the tempo due to the good bowling of Binesh (3-31), Mansoor (3-28). Jeddah could reach only 169-9. Binesh got the Player of the Match cup. GK Gizan Gladiators lost to Delta Najran Jewels by 67 runs due to intelligent bowling by Najran's Nouman (4-13) and Zubair, Rizwan and Raoof (2 each). Electing to bat first, Najran made 152-7 through Saleem (37 — 17, 4x2, 6x3) and Zahid (23 — 14, 4x3, 6x1). Imran (3-29), Pradeep (2-25), Iqbal (2-33) took the wickets for Gizan. In reply, Gladiators was all out for 85. Imran hit 28 (21 - 4x2, 6x2) and Mubashir 23 (16 - 4x1, 6x1). Najran's Nouman walked away with the Player of the Match award for his fine bowling.
