By Dr. Sayed Ziauddin

JEDDAH — Salman Patel starred with the bat whereas Luqman Ulfat, Gulsher, Abid Shaikh, Shahzad, Tariq Siddiqui and Rabi Walih excelled with the ball in the SCC Morning Challenge Cup played under the auspices of Saudi Cricket Center here in WPCA.

In the first match, Deccan Youth defeated Hyderabad Strikers by 4 wickets. Hyderabad Strikers managed 140 for 8. Afreed scored 49, Irfan Ayazuddin 27 and Ali 21. Ishtiyaq and Shahid had identical figures of 3-23. Deccan Youth scored 141 for 6. Hidayat hit 37, Shahid 21, Ibrahim Nahdi 20 and Ishtiyaq Patel 23 not out. Irfan took 2-27.

AEC downed FRCC by 3 wickets. FRCC tallied 154. Riyaz stroked 40 and Safar 22. Abid scalped 4 for 33 and Patel 2-33. AEC chased 155 for 7 in 103 balls. Aqeel Sethi retired after 44, Abid Sheikh 33 and Tariq unbeaten 25. Riyaz took 3-34.

Al Kabbani Cricket Group nipped NNG Sports by 1 run. Al Kabbani piled up 161 for 7. Imran Qaisar stroked 26, Shiraz Ahmed 35 and Saleem 38. Shahzad grabbed 4 for 34 and Salman 2-40. NNG Sports was stranded at 160 for 8. Afsar hit 34, Amir 29, Bilal 24 and Bilal 27. Luqman Ulfat grabbed 5 for 26.

Bihar International Fighters beat Red Sea ALJ by 36 runs. Bihar Fighters racked up 184 for 4. Anwar Chandi smashed 64, Ali made 53 and Zia scored 25. Bilal took 2-28 and Israr 2-47. Red Sea ALJ scored 148 with Jaan taking 3-37, Ashiq 3-14 and Hassan 3-22. Jabran scored 27, Bashir 21 and Ghayuor 24.

Arcoma thrashed Apex Freight by 5 wickets. Apex Freight tallied 149 for 8. Asif compiled 38 and Raja Nasir 23. Sardar Alam remained unbeaten 32. Nabeel took 3-19 and Mujtaba 3-28. Arcoma totaled 150 for 5 in 107 balls. Abdul Wasey clubbed 54 and Shareef 32. Nasir claimed 3-28.

Sadafco crushed Reel & Rom Spikes by 9 wickets. Reel & Rom Spikes was restricted to 103 for 9. Khadim scored 28 and Akbar Ali 22. Khadim grabbed 3-14. Sadafco achieved victory, hitting 106 for 1 in 56 balls. Ahmed Mugheri remained unbeaten on 54 and Salman scored 46.

Universal United thrashed Delight by huge 162 runs. Universal United blasted 284 for 6. Tariq Siddique slammed 79 off 39 balls and Bilal 41. Earlier Ijaz Khan stroked 33 and Waseem 33. Tanveer remained unbeaten on 49. Abdul Muqeet had 2-54. Delight responded with 122 for 5. Nabeel scored unbeaten 57.

Al Saudi Green defeated Deccan Youth by 5 wickets. Deccan Youth managed 155 for 7. Hidayat stroked 50 and Fahad unbeaten 39. Munzir Kidwai claimed 2-25, Nadeem Saad 2-30. Al Saudi Green scored 156 for 5 in 114 balls. Asif remained unbeaten on 46 and Humayun Khan 39. Ishtiyaq Patel scalped 2-32.

Al Mazroi won by 2 wickets against Al Kabbani Cricket Group, which scored 190 for 8. Imran Qaisar belted 65, Saeed unbeaten 28, Nasir 23 and Luqman Ulfat 21. Farhan took 2-28. Al Mazroi reached 191 on the last ball despite 5 run outs. Salman Patel played a solid innings of 97 off 60 balls, and Afroz hit 31. Luqman Ulfat claimed 2-23.

ATC defeated Super CC by 8 wickets. Super CC made 157 for 8. Jahangir stroked 31 and Waseem 26. Rabih Wali grabbed 3-16, Amir 2-12 and Waqas 2-29. ATC made 160 for 2 in 101 balls. Rabih Wali remained unbeaten 75 off 48 balls and Kashif scored 57 off 44 balls.

Red Sea ALJ trounced AWCC by 44 runs. Red Sea ALJ amassed 234 for 7. Israr Kiyani smashed 68, Tanveer Zamane 21 and Zeeshan Amin 66. Bilal Kiyani compiled 56. Gul Sher claimed 4 for 15. AWCC managed 190 for 6. Saeed Shah scored 67, Nanaji remained unbeaten 36, Adnan 46, and Muzaffar 16. Shafaqat took 3-17 and Jabran 2-24.

Arcoma thrashed IISJ by 47 runs. Arcoma piled up 169 for 4. Shareef stroked unbeaten 75 off 56 balls, Ismail scored 33 and Abdulwasey contributed 33. IISJ replied with 122 for 7. Imran Malik compiled 41 and Mateehullah 22. Shabir claimed 2-21.

Reel & Rom Spikes beat Nasco by 4 wickets. Nasco tallied 169 for 8. Zaheer stroked 46, Murad 25, Umair 33 and Ammad 22. Abdul Rehman scalped 3-29 and Noman 2-39. Reel & Rom Spikes scored 173 for 6 in 109 balls. Abdul Rehman scored 32, Shahzad 33, Noman 22 not out and Akbar Ali 20. Sabir claimed 3-27.

MFCC trounced ADI XI by 71 runs. MFCC plundered 179 for 7. Abdul Jabbar stroked 57, Kashif 29 and Taha 21. Gohar scalped 3-46. ADI XI was restricted to 108 for 5. Raza scored 33. Taha took 3-22.