Dr. Sayed Ziauddin JEDDAH — Dopco Stars, chasing 115, choked against Pepsi Deccan Knights, while Crown Steel kept its chances alive for the semifinals after defeating APF and Al-Saudi-XI downed Usman Gems in the Hyundai Naghi-sponsored T20 Tournament in the WPCA Premier League here recently. Pepsi Deccan Knights, opting to bat first, lost wickets at regular intervals to be tottering at 42-6 as Khurram and Wahid bowled intelligently. Ayaz rescued with 33 as he added 47 runs with Aleem, who hit 25, to reach 114-9. Khurram Haneef grabbed 4-10, Wahid 2-32, Shoaib 2-24 and Asim 1-24 to complete the Deccans' rout. Dopco Stars reply was even worse as the cakewalk-looking chase turned into a nightmare as champions just crumbled under pressure. Top order failed miserably as Murli in trying to steady the sinking ship made 28 to get to 95. It lost the encounter by 19 runs. Ayaz scalped 3-15, Naveed 3-24, Sohail 2-3, Wajid 1-0 and Ali 1-23 to win against a formidable side. Crown Steel chose to bat against Asian Plastic Factory (APF) and produced 173-6 as everybody in the top order contributed as skipper Shafeeq made 22, Qaiser Iqbal hit 36, Abid Naseem 35 and Tasleem remained unbeaten on 41 off 30 balls. Abdullah Essa took 2-17, Waqas Ausaf 2-31 and Arshad Choudhry 2-39. APF, chasing almost 10 runs per over, started well with Anis Malik making 68 in 45 balls with 2 sixes and 4 fours, while hard-hitter Khurram Karamat hit 30 and the two stitched together 68 in 49 balls for the first wicket. But the batsmen followed failed to keep up the run rate. Waqas Ausaf contributed 23 and the team was restricted to 155. Ijaz Sagheer Mitha took 1-28, Waqas 1-23 and Shafeeq 1-11. Saudi-XI, using the track first, piled up 216-8. Mazher made 45 as he added 73 in 25 balls with Javed Iqbal, who compiled 44. Nazeer stroked 32, Imran Azam 26 and Nadeem Saad 23. Qaim Khan took 2-37, Hashim Khan 2-60, Zahid Anwer 2-23 and Farid Afridi 1-28. Usman Gems responded with 152. Hashim Khan contributed 27 and Zeeshan Soherwardy 37, while Qayam Khan coming at No. 4 top-scored with 51 in 31 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes. Amjad took 2-33, Jawwad 2-35 as Mazher 1-32 and Nadeem Saad 1-28.
