Riyadh: Srinagar Strikers Jeddah crushed Rawalakot Rangers Jubail by 10 wickets to lift the first edition of the Kashmir Premier League played at Nofa ground KSA.
Srinagar Strikers struck the double blow to Rawalakot in third over of the innings sending back both the openers Najmas Saqib (8 runs) and Amer Parvez (6 runs).
Suhail Latif and Arslan Mushtaq tried to steady the innings but could not resist the RRJ attack for long. Suhail managed to make quick fire 25 runs in 5 balls that was studded with two sixes and one four, Arslan made careful 23 runs of 33 balls to put up a partnership of 34 runs. The partnership ended when Mushtaq clean bowled dangerous Suhail in the last ball of seventh over.
The fourth wicket partnership of 40 runs Arslan and Farhan also provided some hopes of posting good total on the scoreboard. However, after Farhan other batsmen couldn’t do much.
Farhan scored 15 runs.
The other notable contributions came from Mohammad Safeer who scored 22 runs 13 balls with the help of 2 mighty sixes. From 14 over, Rawalakot’s five batsmen fell like pack of cards contributing just 40 runs.
Shabir Ali scalped 4 wickets, supported by Bilal Wani who claimed 3 crucial wickets and Mushtaq Ahmad took 2 wkts while as Sameer Rather also claimed one wicket.
The whole team was bundled out on 140 runs in the allotted 20 overs giving Srinagar Strikers a fairly easy chance to win the final clash of KPL.
Srinagar Strikers made most of this modest total which gave their openers free reigns to milk runs easily. Both the openers showed no mercy to Rawalakot bowlers hitting them all over the ground while sending most of the deliveries over the fences.
Opener Samiullah Najar made 64 runs in just 35 balls hitting 8 sixes and two fours while as Bilal Wani was more brutal who blasted 77 runs in just 26 balls with scintillating 10 sixes and two fours sealing the victory and the trophy in just 10 overs.
Samiullah Najar was adjudged as the Man of the Match. Shabir Ali was given declared Performer of the Day with 4 wickets sponsored by AR Sports.
The final prize distribution ceremony was hosted at the NOFA ground.
Sadiqul Islam (SCC Cricket Affairs in KSA), Rahat Choudhary (SCC Cricket Affairs in KSA) from Saudi Cricket Centre, Aafaq Masudi – General Secretary Al Qassim Cricket Association, Aijaz Bakshi – Partner Halayalla Group, Berry Gregson – Landscaping Manager – NOFA, Pervaiz Ahmad – MD MBCC Group and Abdul Majid Bhat.
Operation Head of KPL Samiullah Najar said it was a dream to have league for Kashmiris in Saudi Arabia which is coming to an end on Friday. We received overwhelming response from the cricket fraternity especially Kashmiris around the globe,” says Samiullah.
The League brought together Kashmiris living in the Kingdom at one place. The KPL was sponsored by the sports app development company HalaYalla based in Saudi Arabia – Riyadh.
