Aijaz Ahmed Khan JEDDAH — The Saudi Premier League (SPL) T20 Tournament made a colorful start at Jeddah Cricket Association (JCA) complex where ACE Travel, Saudi Oil Company, Pepsi Deccan Knights, MB Stars, Kashmir Stags and debutant My Care Blazers came out on top. The presence of Jaweed Munawar, CEO of Riyadh Cricket League (RCL); Haneef Babar, senior vice president of RCL; JCA office-bearers; Dr. Faiz Al-Abideen, JCA chairman; and Humayun Farooq, JCA vice chairman, made the opening session a memorable one. The SPL matches started with Aijaz Ahmed Khan, JCA vice president, bowling the ceremonial ball that was played by Mohammad Iqbal, JCA president, with A.R. Merchant, JCA torch-bearer, keeping the wickets. ACE Travel beat ARM by 9 wickets. ARM, opting to bat first, scored 161-7 in 20 overs. In reply, ACE Travel scored the required (162) runs for the loss of 1 wicket. For ARM, Nazeer scored 57 (3x4 & 3x6), Sami Khan 28, Athar Ali and Arshad 25 each. For ACE Travel, Abdul Wahed took 3-33 and Faheem Pasha 2-41. Moazzam (108 not out - 9x6 & 8x4) and Abdul Wahed (51 — 3x6 & 7x4) gave the winner a good start of 122 as ACE Travel reached home in 9.5 overs. Moazzam was declared Man of the Match. Saudi Oil Company crushed Hyderabad Strikers by 6 wickets. Hyderabad Strikers, batting first, were bowled out for 70 in 14 overs. Captain Anwar Khan (18) and Abdul Quddus (12) were the only ones to touch double figures. For Saudi Oil Co. Ashiq took 3-9, Meer Ayaz 2-3 and Waqas 2-25. Saudi Oil reached the target in 12.1 overs, losing 4 wickets. Captain Humayun Farooq and Salman took the team home with 26 each. Abdul Quddus took 2-17. Ashiq was adjudged the Man of the Match. Pepsi Deccan Knights downed Saudi German Hospital by 5 wickets. Saudi German Hospital put on 159-8. Jaweed (46) and Taqi (48) scored 98 for the first wicket partnership. Qadeer added 25. Wajid Samdani and Syed Mohammad Afroz took 3 wickets each for 28 and 19 runs, respectively. In reply, Pepsi Deccan Knights scored 160-5 in 17.2 overs. Najeeb hit 32, Wajid Samdani 28, Mazhar 23 and Ba Hamed 27 not out. Huzaifa took 3-37. Wajid Samdani was declared the Man of the Match. MB Stars edged ICAD by 29 runs. MB Stars posted 179-7 with Husnain scoring 50, Murtaza 39, Akhter Mehmood 28, Zia Anwar 22 runs and Moazzam 20. Waqas took 2-39. ICAD was bowled out for 150 in 18.2 overs. Shakeel managed 28 and Jintu 22. MB Stars captain Ateeq Mansha took 4-20, while Moazzam and Zia Anwar bagged 3 each. Zia Anwar was named the Man of the Match. Kashmir Stags crushed Hyderabad Sharks by 88 runs. Kashmir Stags scored 188-6. Waseem hit 77 and Majid 44. Faheem and Mohammed took 2 wickets each for 31 and 14 runs, respectively. Hyderabad Sharks were bundled out for 100 in 12.1 overs. Luqman scored 34. Majid Butt took 4-25 and Shabbir 3-31. Majid Butt was adjudged the Man of the Match. My Care Blazers thumped Pak Green by 5 wickets. Pak Green was bowled out for 191 in 19 overs with Rizwan making 43, Shaan 31 and Kamran 26. Zakir took 3-27, Yaseen 2-47. In reply, My Care Blazers reached their target in 15.3 overs losing 5 wickets. Captain Shad Mohammed hit 106 in 40 balls and Adnan Khan 56 in 34 balls. Mohammed Zahid took 3-42. Shad Mohammed was declared the Man of the Match. An award presentation ceremony was held at the end of the matches where Man of the Match awards, comprising electronics products sponsored by Khind, were distributed. Khalid Yamani, regional manager of Khind, presented the awards along with guests Munawar, Babar and Dr. Faiz. All present applauded the efforts put in by the three-men SPL committee: A.R. Merchant, Syed Ashfaque Hussain and Haroon Abdullah Bin Mahfooz (director of the SPL event). The event is sponsored and supported by Ace Travel and Tours and Initial Services Group as main sponsors along with co-sponsors, ALS Borderless Logistics, Khind Electronic, Saudi Industrial Projects Company for Pepsi, Arrow Food Distribution for Mizo juices and UT Lines. It is organized by Jeddah Cricket Association.
