by Siraj Mohammed
Daijiworld Media Network – Al Khobar (SP)
Al Khobat, Aug 24: Asia XI – Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, successfully conducted “Al Anwaar Summer Cup – 2009, in which 16 teams from Dammam, Al Khobar, and Jubail participated. The matches were played at Rakah Grounds, near Dhahran Exhibitions, and Dammam on August 14.
Falcon Express Lines – Dammam, defeated KCC Knight Cricketers by five wickets in the finals to clinch ‘Al Anwaar Summer Cup – 2009’.
In the finals, KCC team won the toss and elected to bat first. KCC lost their opener Ashraf cheaply before the team could get a good start. After the initial hiccups, Imran joined Shabbier and played some responsible innings and took the KCC team to a commendable position. After Imran’s dismissal, all-rounder Haneef joined Shabbier and played magnificently for KCC to build up a remarkable total of 101 in the allotted overs. Haneef made a fine 36 with two huge sixes while Shabbier made 30 with three sixes, and Imran made an unbeaten 16.
On behalf of the Falcon Express team, Javed and Tausif bowled very well and took two wickets each.
Chasing the target, Falcons Express also lost their opening batsman Affan in the first over itself, and then Ashfaq joined Imran, and kept rotating the strikes, thereby keeping the score board moving. After Imran got out, Stylish batsman Anwar joined Ashfaq and played brilliantly to take the Falcons Express to the striking distance of victory. In the last two overs (12 balls) the team required 30 runs. At this stage, star batsman Javed and Anwar smashed KCC bowler Bablu, milking 25 runs with 2 huge sixes and 3 boundaries in one over. In the last over, they require just five runs from six balls. But at this moment, they lost Anwar and again the Falcons were in need of five runs from five deliveries. Then captain Ilyas joined Javed and the team still needed three runs from just two deliveres. At this juncture, Javed lifted the fifth ball of the over towards mid-wicket for four runs and earned his team a thrilling victory with one ball to spare.
Anwar of Falcons Express team, was adjudged the man-of-the-match, for his excellent batting in the finals, making 45 runs.
Prior to the finals, in the first semi finals, Falcons Express defeated Al Anwaar Cricketers, in which Ashfaq of Falcons was declared the man of the match for his excellent batting and bowling performances. In the second semifinals, KCC Knight defeated Asia XI, in which Ashraf of KCC was declared the man-of-the-match for his excellent batting and bowling performances.
Other Awards: Man of the tournament - Ashraf of KCC, Best Batsman - Majeed of Al Anwaar and Best bowler - Javed Suralpady of Falcons express.
The sponsor of this tournament, Mohammed Haneef Patel of Al Anwaar Trading and Contracting, Al Khobar, distributed trophies to the winners and runners-up and also to the meritorious players.
Ehethesham of KCC Knight, Rajgopal of Zamil Glass, Ahmed Shakir of Falcon Express Lines, Yunus Arif Patel of Asian Computers, Mohammed Iqbal of Zamil A/c, were also present at this function.
At the end, tournament organizer Mohammed Noor – Asia XI, proposed vote of thanks to the sponsors, guests, all the invitees and all the teams, for their support and help, which enabled in conducting this tournament in a grand and successful manner.