Nasir Mehmood Abbasi JEDDAH — Yassir Maqbool's 228 not out was the highlight of the Round 7 matches of the Saudi ORIX Cricket Tournament, organized by Riyadh Cricket Association (RCA) here. In Al-Kharj Cricket Zone, Lahore Badshah beat Ayoun Al-Badr by 95 runs. Batting first, Lahore Badshah scored 358 in 40 overs. Yassir Maqbool played a splendid unbeaten knock of 228 off 128 balls. He was well-supported by Abdul Wahab and Adeel who scored 48 and 36, respectively. In reply, Ayoun Al-Badr was all out for 263. For Lahore Badshah, Waseem took 5 wickets and Irfan got 3. In another match, KFSH Blues defeated CKK by 1 wicket. CKK, which opted to bat first, was all out for 271 in 37.2 overs. Imran Kifayat was the highest scorer with 77. Nouman made 60 and Omar 42. Nadeem Babar was the pick of the bowlers for KFSH Blues with 3 wickets. Usman and Irshad claiamed 2 wickets each, while Saqib got 1. Chasing 272, KFSH Blues started well with openers Nasir Abbasi and Nadeem Babar scoring fifties. Nasir Abbasi made 63, Nadeem Babar 51 and Irshad 56. Rehan scored a useful 26. KFSH Blues lost wickets at regular intervals, but in the end achieved the target in 37.5 overs. Osman remained unbeaten on 18. In another encounter, Pak Shaheen beat Shuraim by 42 runs. Batting first, Pak Shaheen was all out for 321. Abdul Wahid scored 84, Ibrar 44, Iftikhar 30, Ateeq 21 and Wahab 20. Shahnawaz took 3 wickets, while Zeeshan, Faisal and Waseem got 2 each. Chasing the target, Shuraim could manage 279. Arif remained unbeaten on 99 and Wasim scored 51. Iftikhar took 3 wickets, while Wahab, Ateeq and Ibrar got 2 each. Lahore Lions beat Amir Holidays in another match. In Huraymala Cricket Zone, Fuchs beat KFSH Greens by 32 runs. Batting first, Fuchs scored 219-6 in 20 overs. Shahbaz Ali scored 71, Azizur Rehman 52, Owais 28 and Waqar 26. Tahir Abbasi took 3 wickets, while Azhar Hussain got 2. In reply, KFSH Green scored 187. Fakhar scored 84 and Mansoor Ali 21. Javed took 2 wickets, while Shahid and Rizwan got 1 each. In another match, Combined XI beat Riyadh Panthers by 1 wicket. Batting first, Riyadh Panthers scored 174-7. Tauseef scored 49 and Sajid Cheema 48. Asmat Shahzad got 2 wickets. Combined XI achieved the target in 19.5 overs through Taj Khan 66, Asmat Shahzad 25 and Ahmed Qayum 23. Raza, Zulfiqar and Hamid got 2 wickets each. In another encounter, Saudi Jaguars beat Stallions. Batting first, Stallions scored 218, thanks to Sohail, Imran Younis, Asif and Yassir who scored 88, 24, 22 and 22, respectively. Saudi Jaguars achieved the target on the last ball. In Riyadh Cricket Zone, Pak Force beat Friends XI by 4 wickets. Batting first, Friends XI scored 174. Akif made 69 and Abdulrahman 27. Pak Force achieved the target. Zeeshan took 2 wickets, while Abdulrahman got 1. In another match, Royal Strikers beat Imran XI in the Super Over. Batting first, Royal Strikers scored 185. Shiju made 82 and Mithun 34. Imran XI also scored 185. Jijin, Siraj and Sharafu got 2 wickets each. In the Super Over, Royal Strikers made 14 and Imran XI 7. In another duel, Serendib beat Tigers by 6 wickets. ACC's Development Manager and member of the 1992 World Cup winning Pakistan team, Iqbal Sikander visited Saudi Arabia recently for a Talent Hunt Program. He visited RCA Cricket Complex and praised the facilities there. He also inaugurated Riyadh Cricket Association's Cricket Academy. RCA Patron Mohammed Anwar presented a shield of honor to him on this occasion.
