YANBU — Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah Cricket Association (YACA) registered its first win in the SCC National T20 Championship by recording a resounding 44-run victory over Madina Cricket League (MCL) at the Yanbu Cricket Stadium here recently. YACA batted first after winning the toss. Right from the beginning runs flowed profusely from openers Ahmedullah (41) and A. Ijaz, who batted superbly for his 57 with 2 sixes and seven fours. Then came the brutal onslaught in the last 10 overs, wherein, M. Afzal and Nadeem plundered runs. Afzal hit 5 fours and 2 sixes in his 67 runs not out. He was ably supported by an improving Nadeem, who smacked 55 not out with 5 fours and 2 sixes. All the MCL bowlers paid the price for pitching the ball too short too often, much to the YACA batsmen's delight. Eventually, YACA compiled an imposing score of 225-2 in 20 overs. S. Omer was the lone wicket-taker who claimed 2-28 in 4 overs. In reply, Sadiq of MCL proved his prowess with a solid knock of 49 and S. Omer looked in prime form with his powerful drives that produced 37 runs. Both the openers fell to some incisive bowling by M. Afzal, who jolted the MCL by claiming 4 important wickets in quick succession. With the required run rate well into double figures, wickets started tumbling rapidly. Yunis (23) and Zahid (29) tried to accelerate the scoring, but it was too late. MCL, however, reached 181-8, losing the match by 44 runs. Skipper Sarafaz took two wickets, while Nadeen and Waeem got one each. But the day clearly belonged to the Man-of-the-Match M. Afzal who shone both with the bat and the ball (67 runs and 4 wickets).
