NCB beat the Sigma Paints Osfan-XI by 77 runs as Zahid grabbed 5 wickets for 19 runs and Hashim Khan made 63 in the fifth week of the JCA Premier Cup which is sponsored by the Kanoo Group and organized by Jeddah Cricket Association (JCA). In other matches, Hijaz-XI registered its 19th straight win in JCA as it downed Saudi German Hospital by 53 runs and Barracuda ICC snatched one run win from Otex in a nail-biting finish. NCB, batting first, made 172-6 in the allotted 18 overs against Sigma Paints Osfan-XI. Opener Irfan went cheaply for 9 off Ashraf but Hashim Khan stayed cool and executed some beautiful strokes for 63 off 42 balls. He was supported by Usman 27, Zahid 18 and Saifullah 13. Young left-arm spinner Faraz was the most successful bowler with 3-33 while Ashraf, Irshad and Zahid got one each. In reply, the Sigma Paints's consistent batsman Akmal was run out for 8 and Jamshed fell to fast bowler Assad. However, Majid Bhatti stood firm to make 44 off 22 balls. Adnan 13 and Shahid 9 were the other contributors as the team collapsed to a paltry 95 in 12.5 overs; Zahid was the most successful bowler with 5-19, Arif took 2-25 while Assad and Hashim Khan took one each. Champion team Hijaz-XI, batting first, was all out for 162 in 17.3 of 18 allotted overs against the Saudi German Hospital. Dashing opener skipper Talha Qulani made 53 off 25 balls. But except for Wajid (15) none clicked on the day. Imran claimed 3 wickets while Ishtiaq, Ashfaque and Taqi claimed two each. Hijaz-XI's Imran took the openers Taqi and Sabtain for 2 and 8 runs and then clean bowled Mubeen for 5 to finish with 3-13. Faheem grabbed 4-32 while Saeed Amoudi had 1-16. Saudi German Hospital was skittled out for 109 in 16 overs. ICC Barracuda, batting first, made 190-7 in 18 overs against Otex-XI. Aslam (Guddu) 56, Pervez 38, Sharif 22, skipper Irfan Qureshi 20, Faraz 12, Rabbani 8 and Fareed 8 were the main contributors. Osman Jani claimed 3-32, Shahnawaz 2-38 while Nasir and Asif took one each. In reply Otex openers Javed 35 and Shahnawaz 26 batted well. Left arm spinner Faraz then (3-33) consumed the top order. The middle order clicked as Asif hit 44, skipper Usman 18 and Naseer 12. Otex reached 189-9 in 18 overs and lost the match by just one run. Azim and Irfan took 2 wickets each while Zameer claimed one. The star of the match was ICC wicketkeeper who made two stumpings and took 3 catches. __
