JEDDAH — MB Stars and Pak Shaheen recorded huge wins over Saudi Oil by 89 runs and Sindh XI by 7 wickets, respectively in the opening week matches of the Ace Travel Premier League. The event is sponsored by Ace Travel and Tours and organized by Jeddah Cricket Association. The 11 participating teams compete in a round-robin format with the top 4 teams qualifying for the knockout stage on Qualifier Eliminator basis. MB Stars, batting first, put on a solid 187-7 as Ateeq Mansha continued his good form with an unbeaten 105 off 55 balls with 15 fours with good support from Moazzam Virk, Tayyab and Ameeq. Waqas (2-39), Sulaiman (2-25) and Ashiq (2-32) contained MB Stars to some extent. In reply, Saudi Oil was bundled out for 98 with only Sulaiman (16), Shahzad (17) and Asim (13) managing double digit scores as MB Star bowlers Chand Yasir (2-31) and Ateeq (2-14) bowled with fire. Moazzam, Zia, Hasnain and Akhtar picked up a wicket each. In the other match, Sindh XI, batting first, was restricted to 152. Sulaiman (36 — 27 balls, 4 sixes, 1 four), Mohsin (32 — 21 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) and Munawwar (21) tried to resist, while the other batsmen succumbed to the guiles of Afzal (4-34), Abdul Rahman (3-23) and Faisal (2-21). In reply, Pak Shaheen raced to 152-3 in 14 overs with Qamar giving a good start scoring 36 (2 sixes, 4 fours). Usman remained unbeaten on 46 (4 fours, 3 sixes) and Ruaidad Khan on 38 (4 sixes, 1 four). Hassan took 2-20 and Ayaz picked up a wicket.
