RIYADH — The Riyadh Cricket League (RCL) kicked off the 2015-2016 season with a T20 Cup tournament at RCL Complex here over the weekend. Forty teams are taking part in the tournament at the RCL Complex where ground facilities have been improved and two new pavilions have been added. The first week saw easy wins for PAK Cricket Club, Royal Fighters, Konkan Green, SACO, Telangana Warriors, South Indian Strikers, Eleven Star, Diamond I and Diamond II winning their matches in emphatic manner. Pak Cricket Club thumped Riyadh Pirates by 107 runs. Pak posted a competitive target of 232 runs. Tallal played a fast-paced of 116 and was well-supported by Waseem Khan (33). In reply, Riyadh Pirates managed only 124 with Fahad scoring 40. Usman and Asad grabbed 2 wickets each. Man of the Match: Tallal. Royal Fighters edged Gujranwala by 20 runs. Royal Fighters put on 191 thanks to Madani Kamran (28), Madani S. (43), Tauseef (56). Gujranwala could reach only 171. Noticeable contribution came from Kamran (84). Madani K. scalped 4 wickets and Tawaf 3. Man of the Match: Madani Kamran. SACO scored a 7-wicket win over United XI. Batting first, United set a modest total of 171 thanks to some tight bowling by SACO attack. Shuja scored 78 to hold the innings together. Akram claimed 3 wickets and Uday 2. SACO was home for the loss of 3 wickets in 18 overs. Uday blasted 48, Shoeb 38 and Azmath 29. Shuja bagged 2 wickets. Man of the Match: Uday. In the Premier I match Konkan Green beat Mazaya Warriors. Mazaya scored 191 with the help of half centuries by Asgar (84) and Fayaz (54). Faheem bagged 3 wickets and Manoj 2. Konkan Green lost early wickets, but a match-winning century by Manoj (103) saw it home. Manoj was supported by Faik Ali (43) and Mansoor (22). Salaam took 2 wickets. Man of the Match: Manoj. In the first Super Division encounter, Telangana Warriors downed Shaheen XI by 4 wickets. Shaheen XI scored 158 runs with main contributions coming from the blades of Nail (54) and Sikandar (40). Taher and Anwar claimed 2 wickets each. Warriors lost early wickets, but its middle order showed resistance and chased down the target in 18 overs for the loss of 6 wickets. Abdul Salam scored 45 and Ehsan 38. Rasheed bagged 3 wickets and Naveed 2. Man of the Match: Abdul Salam. South Indian Strikers clinched an easy 9-wicket win over Khalil Stars. Khalil Stars posted 143 in the 16-over-a-side match. Aziz hit 39. South Indian bowlers were right on the money from the start. Waseem and Arif scalped 4 wickets each. In reply, South Indian Strikers were home (144) for the loss of 1 wicket. The second-wicket stand of 144 between Arafat Baig (84) and Obeid (42) saw it through. Shera took the only wicket to fall. Man of the Match: Arafat Baig. In other matches: Diamond I thumped Jamiaa by 6 wickets; Diamond II beat Pure Health by 58 runs; Elevenstar thrashed Kashmir Cricket Club by 134 runs; Mughal edged Evergreen by 2 wickets in their 2nd Super Division match. — SG
