JEDDAH — UPL Elite Cup has entered into fourth week as five matches were played at UPL facilities here recently. Waqas, Imran, Bilal and Qamar Abbas earned splendid batting honor by making half centuries in this eight-over Elite Cup organized by United Premier League. In the first encounter, ATS put on a record total of 146 runs and won against Challengers by 44 runs. Waqas fired an unbeaten 80 in 24 balls with 11 sixes. The score rocketed when Imran (51 in 20 balls, 7 sixes) started hitting vigorously from the other end. Both celebrated an unbeaten partnership of 140. Badar Uddin was the only successful bowler with a wicket. Chasing the mighty total, Challengers went wild from the first ball. Fairoz and Ayoub were on a rampage as both hit 30 but the introduction of Tahir and Sadiq changed the game. Both claimed 2 wickets each for 6 and 9 runs, respectively. Challengers were restricted to 108–8. In the second match, Kerala Strikers beat IOE by 64 runs. Batting first, Kerala Strikers posted an impressive total of 114 after getting an early blow. Bilal was in fine form as he hit 75 in just 30 balls, while Usman made 20. Hassan of IOE grabbed 1 wicket. In reply, IOE was bundled out for a mere 50. Only Hassan and Abdul Aziz battled for honor and scored 20 and 19, respectively. Lothers won their encounter against Tech Yorkers by 8 wickets in the third match. Farooq Pasha hung around for 19, helping Tech Yorkers reach 51. Irfan Haider (2-9) and Sahil Ejaz Butt (2-7) were the main destroyers, while Farshat grabbed 1. Lothers reached the target in the 5th over as Sahil Butt hit an unbeaten 23 and Farshat 15, after losing 2 early wickets. Ajay Kumar was the only successful bowler with 2 wickets. A brilliant 50 not out by Qamar Abbas guided Elaf to a 9-wicket win over Rising Stars in another match. In pursuit of 72 runs, Elaf reached home in the 7th over. Earlier, a fine all-round performance by Tanvir, who first scored a brisk 40 and then provided an early blow by removing Elaf's opener in the first over, was not enough to lift Rising Stars. Amjad took 2-5. Target Guys added another win to their account as they beat Jeddah Indians by 8 wickets in the final enounter. Qaisar (35) inspired Jeddah Indians to 57. Rukshan (2-2) and Irfan (2-3) bowled well to restrict JICC to its lowest score of the tournament. Abdul Rahim (25 not out) and Zawahir (19 not out) featured a combination of fine touches and mighty hits to achieve the target in the 4th over. Sahil took 2-31.
