JEDDAH — Lothers Cricket Club will meet Jotun Penguins in the final of the 9th TCF-Jotun Paints Champions Trophy at 7.00 p.m. Friday at BMT ground here. T.C. Matthew, vice president of BCCI, will be the chief guest for the final. In a high-scoring thriller, Lothers CC beat Kanoo Logistics by 14 runs. Once again Lothers lost the toss and was put into bat. However, Lothers gleefully accepted the challenge and amassed a huge total of 154-2 in 10 overs. Opener Waqas Ali, a left-handed batsman, played a brilliant innings of 88 not out from 38 balls with 11 sixes and 3 fours all over the ground. The unbroken third-wicket partnership of 68 from just 23 balls by Waqas Ali and Zahid Hussain (26 not out from 12 balls) did the trick for them. Sarfras and Shan took 1 wicket each for Kanoo Logistics. In reply, Kanoo Logistics also started well, putting on 77 for the first wicket but couldn't maintain the required run rate. Opener Safayer played a fighting knock of 66 from 28 balls (8 sixes and 4 fours) and a final cameo from Sarfraz, who remained not out on 24 from just 5 balls, brought them very close. Zar Khan, Abdul Wahid, Samiulla and Raza took one wicket each for Lothers. Waqas Ali was named the Man of the Match. In the second semifinal, Jotun Penguins thrashed Al-Max Cricket club by 9 wickets with 3 overs to spare. Opting to bat first, Al-Max scored a fighting total of 105-6 in 10 overs. Jotun opening bowler Ahmed struck of his first ball but Zaheer Ahmed (33 from 20) and Ahmed Qurashi (33 from 23) added some valuable runs for the second wicket partnership. Mohammed Fasmi also scored 19 from 8. Ahmed Ali, Waqas, Aftab and Amjed took one wicket each for Jotun Penguins. In reply, Jotun Penguins' opener Mohammed Bilal played a brilliant innings of 66 from 25 balls with 7 sixes and 5 fours to steer the team into the final. Ali Ramzan remained not out on 15 (8). Shams made 14 (9). Zaheer Ahmed took 1 wicket for Al-Max. Mohammed Bilal was adjudged the Man of the Match. The tournament is organized by Tellichery Cricket Forum (TCF) under the auspices of Saudi Cricket Centre (SCC). The event is mainly sponsored by Jotun Paints and well supported by Holiday Inn Jeddah gateway, Turkish Airlines, Bupa Arabia, 3 Horses, Al-Hokair Group, FSN, Kool Design and Futurelite.
