RIYADH — The Youm Al-Watani Cup will have a new champion this year as the defending champion was knocked out in the semifinals here. AR Sports Dammam Fighters and Dream India Saudi Gems will fight it out Friday in the final of the biggest softball tournament in the Kingdom. The two semifinals had two different storylines. While the bowlers dominated one, the batsmen dictated the other. The first semifinal saw the defending champion Syed's Najd Najams beaten by AR Sports Dammam Fighters by 6 wickets. Najams' captain Kaleem won the toss and elected to bat in windy weather. It started losing wicket from the fifth ball of the innings. The trend continued against some accurate pace bowling by Nassar (3-11), Sayeed (3-14) and Imran (3-16). The whole team collapsed for 68 in 11.2 overs — the lowest total in the tournament. Amir scored 20 and Kaleem 13 for Najams. Dammam also lost its first wicket in the first over and survived some anxious movements thereafter. Farooq (22) stood like a wall till the end along with Sarfaraz (15). Azam hit 13 to take AR Fighters home (71) for the loss of 4 wickets in 10.1 overs. Nassar was named the Player of the Match. In the second semifinal, Dream India Saudi Gems defeated Delta Najran Jewels by 59 runs. Dream India Saudi Gems captain Ehsan called the coin right and opted to bat. It piled up 207-4. Its innings started on a slow note, but gathered steam with Arafath making 52 (4x2, 6x5), Imran Shazad 36 (4x2, 6x4), Baber 33 (4x3, 6x2), Sarfaraz 31 (4x2, 6x3) and Imran 20. Rizwan scalped 2-51. Delta Najran Jewels players went for their shots from the start but failed as the wickets kept tumbling due to excellent spells from Sarfaraz 5-41 and Ibrahim 2-24. Delta captain Mukarram hit 43 (4x1, 6x4) and Abrar 38 (4x3, 6x3) to revive its innings but it came too late and it could muster only 148-7. Other batsmen failed to reach double figures. Sarfaraz picked up for the Enjaz-Bank Al-Bilad Star of the Day award, while Imran Shahzad was adjudged Player of the Match for taking their teams into the final. The final will be a 20-over game and played in morning and afternoon sessions.
