Amir’s century catapults Downtown to Semis
Riyadh: 1st Match of the 5th week of KPL started with thrilling and exciting encounter between Srinagar Strikers Jeddah (SSJ) and Downtown Dynamites (DDK).
Downtown Dynamites confirmed its berth in the semis with the help of Amir’s swashbuckling century to chase a mammoth target of 192 runs by Srinagar Strikers. DDK won the match by 8 wickets.
SSJ won the toss and decided to bat first. SSJ compiled mammoth total of 192 runs on board after shaky start when they were three down with only seven runs on board but Bilal Wani and Gowhar Wani controlled innings by their excellent partnership. Bilal Wani missed the century just by one run and Gowhar scored 38.
For DDK, Arif Malik scalped 3 wickets. While chasing down huge total set by SSJ, Downtown Dynamites were right on money from word go. After good start provided by openers Azhar Banday and Altaf Hussain, then technically sound batsman Amir Sofi took charge and finished match in style by smashing unbeaten 102 runs to took his team to semi-finals of KPL-1.
For SSJ Mushtaq Ahmad and Shabir Ali had one wicket each.
Man of the Match was awarded to Amir Sofi for his brilliant and match winning innings of 102 runs
Match 2
Anantnag lose to Rawalakote despite Majid’s quick-fire ton
2nd Match of the day was played between Anantnag Avengers Abha (AAA) and Rawalakote Rangers Jubail (RRJ). AAA won the toss and elected to bat first. AAA scored 190 runs in allotted 20 overs. Majid Bashir blasted 120 of 65 balls with 11 sixes and 4 four’s and helped team to score 190 runs in allotted 20 overs.
For RRJ Asif took 3 wickets. In reply RRJ chased down target without panicking and made it to semi-finalists of KPL-1. Sohail Latif (33 runs), Najmus Saqib (34 runs) and Muhammad Asif (45 runs of 16 balls) were top scorers.
Asif was adjudged player of the match for his all-round performance 45 runs of 16 balls and scalping 3 important wickets.
Match3
Rajbagh romps home with 8 wkts to spare
3rd and the last match of the day was played between Baramullah Bashers Nofa and Rajbagh Royals Riyadh.
RRR won the toss and elected to bat first and put 179 runs on board. Tanveer Bhat was top scorer with 62 runs and sensible batting by Sohail Bakshi and Faisal Bashir helped team to post 179 runs in 20 overs. For BBN Sohail Ahmad picked 2 wickets.
In reply BBN strolled home winning by 8 wickets and keeping the top slot of the point’s table in KPL-1.
Captain Asmat Khan scored 75 of 35 balls with 7 sixes and 5 four’s, Lukman and Sohail Ahmed scored 52 and 19 runs respectively. For RRR Riyaz wani took 2 wickets.
Asmat Khan was declared man of the match for his match winning knock of 75 runs.
Next week Semi Finals of KPL 1st will be played between the teams who have qualified and are as under,
Ist Semi Final: DDK vs RRJ -8 am
2nd Semi Final: BBN vs SSJ -2 PM.
The tournament is being organised by Non-Resident Kashmiris living in Saudi and is sponsored by Halayalla.
For more details, visit www.kplsaudi.com
