SCPCO and Pan Gulf of Premier Division, while KLV Khodari Khans XI and Eastern Arabia of First Division will clash in the finals of the SCC Challenge Cup T20, sponsored by Saudi Cricket Center (SCC) and organized by EPCA. SCPCO came good against Naqi Strikers in the first semifinal. Although SCPCO lost three quick wickets, Mohsin Saleem played a superb unbeaten knock of 103. Falak Malik supported him with 54 as the team scored 223-5 in 20 overs. Naqi Strikers had 18 overs to score the required runs due to its slow bowling rate. Farruk Hanif hit some mighty blows to score 53, but his effort went in vain as Naqi Strikers was bundled out in 17.4 overs for 149. Wahab Rana, Mujtaba and Mohsin bowled well. Pan Gulf halted the progress of Al-Ghamdi with a convincing 60-run win. Saad Khan, the lefty who has been the man for Pan Gulf, played some blazing shots to score a brilliant 100 in 64 balls. He was supported by Abdul Wahab (29), Mohsin (25) and Waseem (34) as the team posted 210-5. Al-Ghamdi fielding an experienced side found it difficult to cope with Pan Gulf bowling and both its openers cheaply. Rizwan (25), Ansar (43), Ziyad (31) contributed with the bat. Saad claimed 3-5. Iftikhar, Khawar and Imran Chaudhary bowled well to restrict Al-Ghamdi to 150 in 18 overs. KLV Khodari Khans XI, electing to bat first, scored 185-8 in 20 overs against EMC. The openers went back cheaply, but Safiullah steadied the innings with a quick-fire 48 and Nadeem Ahmed added 41 to help KLV Khodari post 185-8 in 20 overs. In reply, EMC lost wickets at regular intervals and was sent packing for 98 in 14 overs. Salman, Aziz, Yahya, Safiullah and Ilyas claimed two wickets each. Eastern Arabia CC upset Tamimi by 25 runs to qualify for the final. Eastern Arabia lost three quick wickets, but Naushad (50) and Imran (36) held the innings together. Afwan (39) and Shijil (28 not out) also made useful contributions as the team posted 201-8 in 20 overs. Kamran scalped 4-25. In reply, Tamimi was unable to score freely and could manage only 176 in 19 overs. Ashfaq blasted 48, Sajeel 34 and Mubashar 28. Noushad, Tauqeer and Surjit bagged 2 wickets each. In the quarterfinals, Eastern Arabia beat Emerald Ashes by 121 runs, EMC upset Friend CC by 57 runs, KVL Khodari downed SSQ by 46 runs, while Tamimi came out on top against Bin Delamah by 24 runs.
