JEDDAH — My Care Hala (MCH) Afternoon League kicked off in style with AJA beating Peeran Warriors by one wicket and Jeddah Shaheen edging Saudi German Hospital on Net Run Rate here recently. The league is sponsored by My Care Hala and organized by Jeddah Cricket Association (JCA). There are a total of 9 teams — Peeran XI, Saudi German Hospital, ICAD, Hala International School, AJA, Hyderabad Shark, Jeddah Shaheen, Peeran Warriors and Old Students — participating in the round-robin league with the top four advancing to the qualifier eliminator knockout phase to decide the winner. Jeddah Shaheen beat Saudi German Hospital by 4 runs. Saudi German Hospital posted 208 for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs. Waqas Khan hit a quick-fire 71 off 26 balls (11 fours and a six). Owais added 45 (7 fours, 1 six) and Ali 34. Abdul Gaffar bowled his heart out to claim 5 for 45 while Faisal and Karam took 2 wickets each. In reply, Jeddah Shaheen got off to a brilliant start with opener Saif notching up his first century of the league — 101 off 44 balls (13 fours and 4 sixes). Faisal hit 26 as Jeddah Shaheen reached 182 for 4 in the 17th over, when the match was stopped due to bad light. Jeddah Shaheen was declared winner by 4 runs on better run-rate. Waqas and Kashif picked up a wicket each. AJA edged Peeran Warriors by one wicket. Peeran Warriors scored 174 for 6 with Rashid top-scoring with 48 (5 fours, 3 six). Imtiaz (40 - 5 fours, 1 six) and Waqas (20 — 5 fours) made useful contributions. Shahid (2-35) and Abdul Qadir (2-27) bowled with fire. AJA won the match by a whisker, ending at 176 for 9 to win by a solitary wicket as Sajjad scored a stylish 50 (6 fours). He was well supported by Javed (23) but it was Shafiq who took them home with an unbeaten 35 (2 fours and a six). Waqas toiled in vain, taking 4 for 35 but his side lost by one wicket.
