JEDDAH — UPL Elite Cup has reached a decisive stage as Elaf, IOE, Rising Stars, ATS and Kerala Strikers won over Challengers, Tech Yorkers, Target Guys, Lothers and Al-Max in week six. Adnan Liaqat underlined his appointment as Elaf captain by leading his team to an 8-wicket win over Challengers with an unbeaten 42 runs. Chasing a moderate total of 72, Adnan hit 2 sixes and 6 fours to beat Challengers in 4.3 overs. Naeem and Shanfer took one wicket apiece. Earlier, Challengers scored 72-5 as Yaqoob top scored with 22. Adnan, Qaisar and Madhura picked up one wicket each. In another match, IOE won its first encounter against Tech Yorker by 8 runs. Ghaffar's 40 was the mainstay of IOE in a total 96-3. Nawaz lifted the score with a fiery 28. Hashim and Osman seized one wicket apiece. Then Tech Yorker enjoyed brilliant batting from Farooq who smartly shaped up the innings with 41, including 4 hits over the fence. There were 26 extras. Idrees, Muzaffar and Fruqan captured one wicket each. ATS overcame Lothers by 6 runs in the third match of the night. ATS scored 85 as Zubair hit 31 and the rival conceded 29 extras. Khuram Aziz was the pick of the bowlers as he snatched 3-5 and fellow Ramiz took 2-15. Lothers went wild while chasing the target as Khuram Aziz propelled the innings with 32. Farshat pounded 30 not out. Ismail captured 1-9. In the fourth match, Waqas became the star performer for Rising Stars after hitting a stormy unbeaten 70 including 7 sixes. Rising Stars put on 108 with Asila's quick-fire 27. Salahudeen took 2-25. In response, Target Guys' Shamsu (29) and Sadiq (23) battled for honor but the team was restricted to 87. Hashim and Imtiaz took 2 wickets for 12 and 23 runs, respectively. Al-Max was the last casualty of the night at the hands of stubborn Kerala Strikers. Usman Amjad's sturdy 27 helped Kerala reach 88. It won the game by 17 runs. Azeem struck with 2-13 and John 1-5. Though Fiyaz was guiding Al-Max with a quick 35, Ameer put Al-Max to the sword by taking 4-19. Three further run-outs wrecked the middle order and it folded at 71.
